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How do hippopotamuses use their canine teeth and incisors?

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A hippopotamus stands at the edge of a watering hole, with several other hippos partially submerged in the water, surrounded by green vegetation in Botswana, Africa. — 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 hippopotamus, the long canine teeth and incisors are used strictly as weapons rather than for feeding.1

When hippos engage in combat, they use these teeth to defend their territory or assert dominance. Specifically, opponents may slash upward at each other’s flanks using their lower incisors. The lower canines are particularly formidable, as they are sharp and can exceed 30 cm (12 inches) in length; these are utilized as weapons during fights with other hippos. While hippos possess these powerful teeth, their grazing is accomplished through a different method: they grasp grass with their tough, wide lips and jerk their heads to pull the vegetation from the ground.12