Hippos Licking Crocodiles - Neatorama

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This video shows crocodiles feeding on a dead antelope. Hippopotamuses wander up to lick the crocodiles, which the crocs tolerate because the hippos are so much larger and stronger. At the end of the video, you can see a baby hippo gnawing on the back of a very patient crocodile.

via Nerdcore

A lot of people don't realize how dangerous hippos are. If I had to fight an animal, the hippo is quite definitely the scariest one I could imagine having to kill.

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It is form of symbiosis. This happens in a very specific location for a very short period of time. Anyone else who had seen the TV version of "Born Free" would also know this.

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The hippos are mocking us. "Oh, look, a camera. Hey human, lookee here, I'm *licking* this big death lizard...you pansies".

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There's a rule with hippos: if you see a baby: run away, because the mother won't be far away and SHE WON'T LIKE YOU. She's likely to start rampaging towards you to kill you. And she's very able to.

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That has to be the most obnoxious narrator ever. Where's David Attenborough when you need him?

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Hmm, maybe they like the tail scales b/c it cleans their teeth when they kinda gnaw on them? *shrugs*

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I'm not sure if it's been proven on what exactly the are getting out of licking them. I don't know how much salt they can get off of them since it's freshwater, so algae might be the reason.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/05/marys_monday_metazoan_croc-lic.php

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^^^^Snackin' algae and teeth-cleaning....Maybe some enzymes on that hide..Perhaps they are getting high as well.

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Gauldar: "I'm not sure if it's been proven on what exactly the are getting out of licking them."

And the reason why we don't know is because the type of individual willing to walk into the middle of a bus-load of crocodiles *and* hippos to find out is also the type of person who doesn't live very long.

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