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At what age do male hippopotamuses become sexually mature in the wild?
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hippopotamus
The word hippopotamus is Greek for “river horse,” which reflects their behavior: they are often seen basking on the banks or sleeping in the waters of rivers, lakes, and swamps across Africa. They favor shallow areas where they can sleep half-submerged, though these places can become quite crowded—as many as 150 hippos may use one pool in the dry season.
In the wild, male hippopotamuses typically become sexually mature between the ages of 6 and 13. While they reach this stage of development, it is important to note that dominant bulls over 20 years of age are the individuals that initiate most of the mating in their populations.1