tuned in

Listen: Hippo back talk could help save one of the world's last huge herbivores

by Jennifer Walter
A pod of hippos, Hippopotamus amphibius,  huddle together in the Mara River, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Shutterstock

imageBROKER/Anette Mossbacher/imageBROKER/Getty Images

Hippopotamuses are very vocal animals, although we know little about why they make so much noise.

They often call and respond to each other, like a conversation.

According to new research, hippos can even recognize their pals’ voices when they’re recorded and played by a loudspeaker.

Nicolas Mathevon
Tap
Space, Time, Dinosaurs, and Other Essential Topics
Get the best of science—space missions, black holes, futuristic biology—delivered daily, minus the jargon.
By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy