CNN —Hippos can get airborne when moving at high speeds over land, according to a new study.
After analyzing videos showing 169 movement cycles from 32 hippos, researchers found that the fastest-moving animals spend around 15% of each stride off the ground.
John Hutchinson, study lead author and a professor of evolutionary biomechanics at the RVC, told CNN that very little was known about the way that hippos move on land.
“Hippos are one of the very few four legged animals at all that just trot,” said Hutchinson.
One sample video that showed a baby pygmy hippo galloping has provided Hutchinson with a jumping off point for future research, he said, adding he wants to investigate whether small hippos, such as baby hippos and baby pygmy hippos, are able to gallop but lose this ability when they grow.
Persons:
John Hutchinson, ”, “, Hutchinson
Organizations:
CNN, Royal Veterinary College
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