True Facts: Hippopotamus

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Special Thanks to:
Dr Eduardo J Fernandez, University of Adelaide
Dr Jonas Schoelynck, University of Antwerp
Dr Julio de Castro
Dr Frank Fish, West Chester University
Dr Maria Maust-Mohl, Manhattan College
Dr Christopher Dutton, University of Florida
Dr Joseph Dudley, University of Alaska
Dr Todd McWhorter, University of Adelaide
Dr Victoria Inman, NSW Dept. of Planning and Environment
Dr Philip Gingerich, University of Michigan
Dr Rebecca Lewison, San Diego State University
Peter Geraerdts
• Baby hippo attacked by... , • Hippo bull commits inf...
Lex Hollmann @LexHollmann
Johan Vermeulen | The Nature Box @thenatureboxfilms
Amos Kaggwa / amostheguide
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance @SanDiegoZoo
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo @ZslOrg1826
Prof. Gordon T. Taylor
PapaArtzzi*- Art Ryan, / artryan4674
Latest Sightings @Latestsightings
Newsflare
Shutterstock
Pond5
iStock by Getty Images
Envato Elements
Citations
Barklow, William E. Amphibious communication with sound in hippos, Hippopotamus amphibius, Animal Behaviour, Volume 68, Issue 5, 2004, Pages 1125-1132, ISSN 0003-3472, doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.200....
Blowers, Tracy, "Social Grouping Behaviors Of Captive Female Hippopotamus Amphibius" (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3459.
stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/3459
Coughlin, Brittany L. , Frank E. Fish, Hippopotamus Underwater Locomotion: Reduced-Gravity Movements for a Massive Mammal, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 90, Issue 3, 2 June 2009, Pages 675-679, doi.org/10.1644/08-MAMM-A-279R.1
Dudley, J.P., Hang'Ombe, B.M., Leendertz, F.H., Dorward, L.J., de Castro, J., Subalusky, A.L. and Clauss, M. (2016), Carnivory by hippos and ecology of anthrax. Mammal Review, 46: 191-203. doi.org/10.1111/mam.12056
Dutton, C.L., Subalusky, A.L., Sanchez, A. et al. The meta-gut: community coalescence of animal gut and environmental microbiomes. Sci Rep 11, 23117 (2021). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02...
Gatesy J, Hayashi C, Cronin MA, Arctander P. Evidence from milk casein genes that cetaceans are close relatives of hippopotamid artiodactyls. Mol Biol Evol. 1996 Sep;13(7):954-63. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a025663. PMID: 8752004.
Geisler, J., Theodor, J. Hippopotamus and whale phylogeny. Nature 458, E1-E4 (2009). doi.org/10.1038/nature07776
Gingerich PD, Haq Mu, Zalmout IS, Khan IH, Malkani MS. Origin of whales from early artiodactyls: hands and feet of Eocene Protocetidae from Pakistan. Science. 2001 Sep 21;293(5538):2239-42. doi: 10.1126/science.1063902. Epub 2001 Sep 19. PMID: 11567134.
Graeme, Shannon, Sadler Phoebe, Smith Joanna, Roylance-Casson Eleanor and Cordes Line S. 2021Contrasting selection pressure on body and weapon size in a polygynous megaherbivoreBiol. Lett.172021036820210368, doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0368
Gray NM, Kainec K, Madar S, Tomko L, Wolfe S. Sink or swim? Bone density as a mechanism for buoyancy control in early cetaceans. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2007 Jun;290(6):638-53. doi: 10.1002/ar.20533. PMID: 17516430.
Inman VL, Kingsford RT, Chase MJ, Leggett KEA (2019) Drone-based effective counting and ageing of hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. PLoS ONE 14(12): e0219652. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.....
McCauley, D. J., T. E. Dawson, M. E. Power, J. C. Finlay, M. Ogada, D. B. Gower, K. Caylor, W. D. Nyingi, J. M. Githaiga, J. Nyunja, F. H. Joyce, R. L. Lewison, and J. S. Brashares. 2015. Carbon stable isotopes suggest that hippopotamus-vectored nutrients subsidize aquatic consumers in an East African river. Ecosphere 6(4):52. dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00514.1
Maust-Mohl, M., Reiss, D. and Reidenberg, J.S. (2019), A Comparison of Common Hippopotamus (Artiodactyla) and Mysticete (Cetacea) Nostrils: An Open and Shut Case. Anat Rec, 302: 693-702. doi.org/10.1002/ar.24032
Maust-Mohl, M., Soltis, J., & Reiss, D. (2018). Underwater click train production by the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) suggests an echo-ranging function, Behaviour, 155(2-3), 231-251. doi: doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-0000...
Saikawa, Y., Hashimoto, K., Nakata, M. et al. The red sweat of the hippopotamus. Nature 429, 363 (2004). doi.org/10.1038/429363a
Sulman J R, Madelyn G C, Irina A K. Correlation of Bone Density in Aquatic and Semiaquatic Animals to Ecological and Dietary Specializations. Open Acc Res Anatomy. 2(3). OARA.000537.2020.
DOI: 10.31031/OARA.2020.02.000537

[@zefrank]

Check out Curiosity Stream! Go to curiositystream.com/zefrank23 and use code: zefrank23 to get 25% off when you sign up!

[@LOL_MANN]

LULW

[@pencilwatchesstuff791]

Wait you're only 23?

[@user-dk5vj2br1o]

Heck yes!

[@ElectricalExistence]

@9:56 gummie land whale*

[@BrettonFerguson]

What if it isn't farts but Hippo diarrhea? Then there would be no bubbles. If it is diarrhea, this could explain why wildlife biologists are having such a hard time pinning down the source of the sound. Have you ever tried to pin down diarrhea? Let alone diarrhea underwater in a river? I expect an answer by Monday.

[@BumroyV2]

I remember reading that hippos were the one animal Steve Irwin refused to get near to. That's how unpredictably violent they are.

[@LindaC616]

More.people die every year in Africa from hippos than lions

[@stillme4084]

Yet a small stingray killed him. Sad

[@beastmaster0934]

Same with cassowaries. If Steve wouldn’t go near it, neither should you.

[@CaptainCFalcon]

​@@stillme4084 well, to my knowledge, it shouldn't have attacked him, & he knew how to handle it, but the camera crew startled it, & it panicked & defended itself.

[@luna-p]

​@@CJVS995 I blame Jerry

[@midoriya-shonen]

"I did that for you, Jerry" nearly a decade of character growth has brought us to this point

[@mehim2893]

I laughed so hard at that!

[@apkphantom2122]

You know, Jerry tries for us, and that needs to be rewarded every now and then

[@indigofenix00]

My favorite hippo fact is that they are not fat at all - their bodies are almost solid muscle, with only about 2% body fat, significantly less than even the most athletic humans. They look big and round because that's just the shape of hippo muscles, and the only reason you can't see the definition is because they have extremely thick skin (about 2-6 inches thick) covering it.

[@booblam6919]

They are chubby....healthy fat I guess

[@calebharris292]

It's like calling a linebacker fat because they got 75 lbs over the wide receiver twink

[@adrienrassat1965]

No wild animal is inherently fat. Obesity is a very human issue.

[@indigofenix00]

​@@adrienrassat1965 True, but many animals like bears, whales, camels and seals have a high body fat percentage because they are supposed to. Hippos LOOK like they are one of those, but they aren't.

[@adrienrassat1965]

@@indigofenix00 Yes, indeed. But people often anthropomorphise animals, and assume that an animal is "fat" (as in overweight) because it has a high bodyfat percentage naturally. You get the old chestnut - "bears can't run fast, they're fat". They're not overweight, so they run plenty fast despite having a high bodyfat percentage. Their bodies have evolved to carry that mass efficiently. Ours, by comparison, haven't.

[@averynelson1186]

HIGHLY recommend that anyone who wants more baby hippo footage look up the journey of Fiona from the Ohio Zoo. She was born prematurely and the zoo staff basically had to forge brand new hippo care methods to keep her alive long enough to reunite with adult parents. Really cutting-edge zoo science. And she was adorable, too. They were very successful. She's a teenager now, basically, and she has a little brother.

[@TheWaywardJs]

Visited the Cincinnati Zoo today for my kid's birthday! I can attest both Fiona and brother are doing great and really like sleeping

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

We saw Fritz last month!

[@RionWulfe]

@@DrJ-hx7wv I'm from Cincinnati, we adore Fiona and Fritz here and look forward to every update on them. They're precious and we're very proud of them, and the Cincinnati Zoo.

[@phoebedarker]

Oh my god she's adorable - thank you stranger!

[@allisonjames2923]

She is most definitely the cutest hippo ever! Watched many videos of her growing up & her humans were unbelievably dedicated to her. When I think of her, an image springs to mind of her chewing contentedly on one of her carer’s legs 💕 She was a little fighter too. Although her little bro Fritz is pretty gorgeous as well.

[@trumpeterjen]

The part where the hippo is baring its teeth at the rhino to try and use its intimidation factor is hilarious once you're aware of how weak a rhino's vision and intellect are. Hippo: "COME AT ME BRO" Rhino: "I literally can't see anything, so I'm just going to impale you until you go away"

[@kralik394]

Hippo: COME AT ME BRO Rhino: (in the style of King Shark) Horn!

[@genericname2747]

"Grr I'm big and scary" "What is that, a weird rock?"

[@franknblunt]

@@genericname2747 A weird & stinky rock, would prolly captivate then aggravate a rhino

[@connorphipps8377]

Hippo: The MURRAY is stronger than a rhino! Rhino: There IS no one my size, pauk.

[@daniell1483]

Rhinos having bad vision is actually a myth. Their eyes are about as good as a cat or a rabbit, which for mammals is pretty good.

[@rickuslastname6305]

"it's a sad thing, but a true thing" Might as well be life's motto

[@kingghidorah8106]

motto motto?

[@AgentJohnSteed]

Too true. Almost a Vonnegut.

[@OofusTwillip]

And yet, Americans demand that all of their movies have a happy ending.

[@ambrr_lily]

​@@AgentJohnSteed More like Dr Seuss.

[@daniellau9177]

Don't F with big chungus

[@armchairgravy8224]

I did not know hippos are land whales, nor manatees are aquatic elephants. You truly are an educator.

[@SigFigNewton]

Elephants are land manatees and whales are seahippos. I’ll fight you

[@pineapplemilkify]

I appreciate the fact that he always includes his sources and includes a works cited bit in the credits. Makes it easier to do research on your own ❤

[@R2D2xC12]

❤❤❤

[@OGFritoHaze]

Was just saying to my girl I've never seen a video that was scientifically accurate enough to bother with citations, super impressive attention to detail

[@michaelgreen1515]

I love it

[@benjaminwelkens8118]

“It’s a sad thing but a true thing” I can’t recall a time I’ve heard such genuine pain in his voice

[@yandenjav9774]

Ikr, was not expecting some sort of melancholy in a Zefrank video

[@ContactsNfilters]

The hyenas: So are you gonna eat that baby or... wanna share?

[@emilyjohn2034]

@@ContactsNfilters I mean did you see those wild dogs? The Hippo just killed that antelope (gazelle? Idk) and they are just like “damn thanks we’ll just take that from you”

[@kathyflorcruz552]

I'm so glad that savagery was blurred out. Nature is Nature but it's not something I can stand seeing. Was really glad the lion got away too!

[@RevokFarthis]

I absolutely love Ze's little "kill me" whenever he makes a pun

[@Kenkasan]

This one was especially perfect.

[@Convict87]

yep

[@KaladinVegapunk]

I'm just absolutely blown away he doesn't mention the obvious factoid that they're the most deadly animal in Africa haha, a lot of people know that but it's still pretty big and interesting But yeah haha it's like he has to make them but it's painful to do so

[@jacem4721]

Same ironically it killed me 🤣🤣

[@crazysasha1374]

The best part is that that is mixed with him being really proud of his stupid puns 1 minute later.

[@Windthin]

Love this. My favorite fact about the hippo is that it RUNS through the water and the water better get the heck out of the way if it knows what's good for it. They actually wear down trails that change the course of rivers. Amazing.

[@clkthespaz]

Oh, Hi! Crazy seeing you here! This video made me want to make a Giff

[@Windthin]

@@clkthespaz They are a great creation, really fun; I've worked on making tons of them in HeroForge!

[@PurebreedFLA]

10:14 "...wildlife rubbernecking."😂😂

[@morley364]

That second lion at the end abandoned his buddy so fast. "Good luck with the giant angry potato, Dave! I'm heading out!"

[@quietone748]

"Angry potato". Perfect descriptor!

[@vincem3748]

He went to look for an empty giraffe

[@Sonichero151]

He took the bear attack analogy literally there.

[@Bluecho4]

To be fair, that's not cowardice. It's just common sense. No one can blame the buddy for abandoning Dave to his fate. Not even Dave.

[@MsLeenite]

And after the hippo chased Dave away: "YEAH! And STAY out!!!"

[@cappincurt6215]

Whales and Hippos being related is the biggest mindfuck of my day

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

Imagine if whales had adapted to grow legs

[@lus-an-tsalainn]

The elephants and dugong thing was what got me

[@VVabsa]

@@Frosty_tha_Snowman Whale ancestors were literally the hairy mammalian version of crocodiles before they lost their hind legs.

[@jtgd]

One is a fat ugly cow that loves water. The other is a giant pseudo fish with tiny legs that NEEDS water

[@omnomshibob]

Do you know about the Rock Hyrax (Dassie)? Closest living relative is the elephant.

[@MissPoplarLeaf]

Thank you for censoring the most violent/disturbing scene while also not sugarcoating the reality. And I absolutely LOVED the puns in this video lol - hippopotamisses, kom-poop-cha... great episode!

[@yaboyal2216]

The "Jerry I did that for you" was an instant classic that should should be done more

[@juandeandrade3675]

I grew up in a small town called Richard's Bay in South Africa, a place known for their hippos and crocodiles. It's a coastal town. However, there are lakes in which hippos reside, and they ran down to the sea. One time, my friend and I planned to swim across a closed area of sea, sort of like a mini-man-made bay. We knew to keep away from the lakes, which were relatively close by as we didn't have a death wish. We started to swim. About half way into our swim we heard this clicking sound under water. We both stopped and looked at eachother puzzled but we couldn't see anything around us so we just brushed it off. We continued to swim and that clicking sound persisted. We stopped again and, I shit you not, about 10 meters from us we saw that familiar hidden face just chilling out the water. Scariest moment of my life. We grow up knowing that hippos have killed more people than any other land animal and knew we were in serious trouble. In that moment, I knew that if the hippo wanted to kill us, it already would have. So my friend and I, without trying to rush, just swam to the nearest land. I have no idea how we made it out out alive but we survived. Honestly thought I was going to die that day. It's true what Zefrank says about their unpredictable nature. I'm sure if it was a young bull, or a mother with her pup, we wouldn't have lived to tell the tale

[@NavigatorMother]

I love these recountings of real life.

[@louisvictor3473]

I would suspect that wasn't the hypo's usual turf, so they might have been in a less "this is my space and feel like asserting dominance" mood, and more of a "what is this place and whare those weird things over there, oh they don't seem to even notice me, oh now they're leaving... alright then, back to figuring the rest of this place out" mood. Or maybe it was just luck, that is the thing about unpredictability, sometrimes you get muder tank, sometimes you get just chilling here tank.

[@0-Elias-0]

Holy sh!t... You swam in Hippo/Crocodile infested waters? Evel Knievel's got nothing on you.

[@givemeahappyending]

Holy crap. If I didn’t have an immediate heart attack from the sheer terror of that realization, I’d have still required rescuing because I’d have frozen in place, incapable of even blinking. I love the heck out of hippos but, If it had been me, I’d have been praying like hell that I was just seeing a great white or a tiger shark. And I’m not even religious. Wow… congrats on your survival. Whew! 😅

[@snagsTS]

I got chased by a hippo near the Limpopo river when I was young. A true come to Jesus moment and probably the fastest I've gone up a tree in my life. At 12 years old I just remembered my grandad telling me there's no way you can outrun them so get high and stay put till they get bored and go away or help arrives. Eventually the hippo just moved on but I stayed up there a good fifteen to twenty minutes and only came down when my friends were calling for me. Yes, we were unsupervised. I recounted this to one of the locals with a farm bordering the Limpopo and he said I probably got near a calf and momma wasn't happy about it. I'd heard the pod some way off so I never expected to run into a solitary cow and her calf 😂 My family didn't hear this story until I was well into my twenties.

[@Eryomis]

Everytime Ze utters the word "babeh", an angel gets its wings.

[@kadiansenoj1849]

Yesssss!!!! 😂❤

[@JubioHDX]

and every time he says the word "biyurds" another animal develops an unconventional penis

[@timwoods2852]

So many wings!

[@StrikingAnimalKingdom]

Being lucky enough to have seen hippos from just a few meters away in Kenya, I can say that these creatures are beautiful and extremely dangerous as well. Majestic animals!!!🤩 P.S: I'm a wild animal lover and a primary teacher from Chile. A few months ago I decided to create a youtube channel to share all the fun facts about wild life, and Ze Frank, you're so inspiring!! My dream is to one day have a channel like yours, thank you so much for all your knowledge!!

[@TheAustinWoolShow]

Can we take a moment to appreciate Jerry? He may not get it right all of the time, but he's been writing and editing for over a decade.

[@gammagong9435]

We're reaching 'Dad Joke' critical mass. And I'm here for it.

[@TippyHippy]

l put my hamster in a sock and slammed it against the furniture

[@kaveman3981]

@@TippyHippy Nah bruh

[@mikeoxmall69420]

He's gonna collapse into a Dad Hole

[@tohanwi]

Ya, the puns were full tilt haha

[@zoyadulzura7490]

@@kaveman3981 I report them whenever I see that comment.

[@mndiaye_97]

Been waiting on this one!

[@jenlc1536]

Ah, two animal content titans! Love you guys!

[@rebeccawaters2539]

The crossover i desperately needed

[@spiraldown2710]

🫠💗

[@aseelbakheet5556]

Yaaaay collab please ✊✊✊✊

[@Triggered6277]

I actually pogged irl

[@75hilmar]

This is the best nature documentary format to ever exist, combining extreme novelty with good humor and grotesquely chilled medieval flutes concert and a voiceover impersonation of Sir David Attenborough. Very well done.

[@leighcochran7303]

I thought it was Morgan Freeman!

[@alessandradigraziano4483]

When I was in Uganda wih my university class of Tropical ecology, we'd spend the evening looking at the river far down below and play "Hippo or croc?" Where we'd spot a figure in the water placed bets on whether it was a hippo or a crocodile and then used our binoculars or telescopic cameras and check. It was fun!

[@kristenjustkristen9462]

That last shot with the lion really does show their true size and strength. Amazing work and amazing animals!

[@Arthera0]

the lion got lucky

[@kR-qj7rw]

Then the one shot with the rhino really makes you go sh in thinks are huge Then there's the African elephants ...

[@tarico4436]

No mention that they're #3 in causing human deaths in Africa (other humans, and the mosquito!).

[@ANIMAL.LOVERS.DONT.EAT.ANIMALS]

Vegan power yo. Lions aint got shit on hippos gorillas etc

[@wesbecool]

​@@ANIMAL.LOVERS.DONT.EAT.ANIMALSif you eat tougher stuff . . .not much tougher than plant matter, they so unbothered that they never even evolved the ability to run from predators😂

[@powergannon]

Some additional information on hippo’s phylogeny: Not only are whales their closest living relatives, they are also more closely related to ruminants such as bovines, sheep, deer, and giraffes, than they are related to pigs. Also something I love is that the clade that includes both cetaceans and hippos is called Whippomorpha.

[@charliespinoza1966]

Whippimorpha is so pleasant to say thank you

[@LeahLuciB]

Wait, I thought they were closer to odd-toed ungulates. Have I been mistaken the all this time?

[@mayhemdiscordchaosohmy573]

@@LeahLuciB I'm just glad koalas and 3 toed sloths are kept out of the pecking order!

[@veritush]

​@Charli Espinoza it's also a great name for a band!

[@samfish2550]

I enjoy this knowledge. Thank you.

[@quetzalthegamer]

I was a huge fan of Animal Planet when I was a kid. Your channel makes me feel like I'm 10 years old watching those shows again. You're like a more comedic, adult-oriented version of Animal Planet.

[@sustomusickillsyoutube]

You are a national fucking treasure, dude. I remember fending your website when I was a teenager, and how much the wisdom you shared on it helped me get through that period of my life. Now you create these lovely, hilarious videos that millions of people see and love. Thank you so much for existing; you don't suck at life. ❤

[@SigFigNewton]

National wealth stud

[@camronsavell]

Telling the hippopotamisses from the hippopotamisters broke me. Great job. Love this channel and wish you could narrate all sorts of things.

[@sadlerbw9]

That one was fantastic.

[@princesslupi4136]

Ze Frank did a Friskies commercial called Dear Kitten years ago. That is how I discovered him. It was the first video I gave a like to and still watch it to this day.

[@janellewoodall2326]

Likes the video immediately after that one lol

[@jenniferkonstant5920]

​@@janellewoodall2326 YES!

[@jenniferkonstant5920]

I'm almost done with the video and i can't stop giggling about that one I'm in tears

[@grunwode]

One day, I would like to have the same job security as Jerry.

[@MoultrieGeek]

Whatever dirt he has on Ze must be truly terrifying. Or gross, can't decide which.

[@michellev8475]

Lmao😂

[@W4iteFlame]

@@MoultrieGeek probably it is something on exact opposite end

[@carmengogeidnas9670]

You mean be drunk at work all day while your boss repeatedly asks you not to say 'dick' in every other paragraph? Yeah that's basically the dream!! ☺️

[@Bluecho4]

One day, we will hear the tale of how Jerry saved Zefrank's life, creating a bond that would last forever and overcome all forces. Up to and including Jerry's rampant idiocy.

[@Paildra91]

I find it funny how the lion at the end sounded like he was initially going for intimidation but then very, very quickly switched to panic.

[@namelessnavnls8060]

All things considered, I think that lion at the end got off pretty frickin easy. He could've ended up with a broken spine and/or other broken bones but he didn't actually look that worse for wear after he got away. Lol. Probably had a heart attack from the whole thing though. I love how his friend didn't even keep swimming the same direction, he was just like "NOPE I'M OUT."

[@deprofundis3293]

I know the reaction of the other lion made it so much funnier 🤣

[@timwoods2852]

Smart lion swims second.

[@ZannePeace42]

The phrase "science hippo" was everything I didn't know I needed

[@BalthusHomewood]

Did you picture a hippo wearing a lab-coat and goggles? I did! :D

[@maydavies888]

Science hippies work well with science hippos.😂😂😂

[@mikeoxmall69420]

Then there's the engineering hippo, the business hippo, the combat hippo, and the logistics hippo

[@SangwiSigil]

@@mikeoxmall69420 how else would they afford these liner cruises they take? A working hippo is a Happy Hippo.

[@sdfkjgh]

@@mikeoxmall69420: President Hippo sounds nice.

[@DanGamingFan2846]

After being blessed with the "oppih", we finally get a True Facts about its closest relative and one of my favorite animals. And as always, Ze Frank doesn't disappoint.

[@Bayofthe91st]

Its actually marking the end of covid-era Zefrank. Oppih was made out of his boredom for doing the distancing

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

I miss the oppih. Such a majestic creature

[@TrianglePants]

GET THAT BOTTER BANNED

[@YeeSoest]

If we go there and imagine the oppih as a real animal, I struggle to see the family resemblance here😂 One has THE HEAD of the animal kingdom and one is actually and truthfully...just a poopy butt and a stubby tail

[@ArcanineEspeon]

This is the second comment that has informed me of the "oppih." I know I absolutely must be missing something now...

[@kitamwilliams]

Loved the ear twirling, and that mucus /sweat/sunscreen! 😮 Amazing! "They also have a weaponized face" 😄 "Learning how best to hippopotam"

[@margaretk2515]

I love learning about nature but I always struggle with viewing animal death (which obviously is a big part of life in the wild). Thank you so much for including the part about the male hippos and the babies BUT having it blurred. The knowledge was absorbed without being soul crushing👍👍

[@SigFigNewton]

Hippos crush souls for fun. Is my current understanding

[@batzzz2044]

Can I just say thank you for giving credit to the Biologists who helped. So many truly great minds never get the recognition they deserve.

[@mariahgrimes207]

Don’t forget about et-Al. 😂😂😂 He’s on all the credits

[@maddieb.4282]

He wouldn’t have any integrity if he didn’t so it’s not something he really needs to be thanked for but go you!

[@genericname2747]

​@@maddieb.4282 Bro they're just saying they appreciate it

[@patrickscalia5088]

ZeFrank might have the mind of a horny smirking adolescent but he's still a class act. It's not always obvious but he does a lot of teaching there in between the laughs and without the scientists he wouldn't be able to do that. He never fails to credit the research and scientists he cites in his videos. Funny or not these are wildlife documentary videos every bit as much as one by David Attenborough.

[@batzzz2044]

@@maddieb.4282 I like your style.....jerk.....we should hang out.

[@sciencenerd7639]

The part about how the silica from the grass gets used by the diatoms blew my mind. Diatoms were already one of my favorite microbes, now that I know they outcompete green algae, that's just one more reason to love diatoms.

[@SYKRAL1]

UserName checks out

[@leahcarson1822]

I don’t understand but I love your enthusiasm!

[@Samsok013]

You have favourite microbes?

[@missg.5940]

I just found out l have a real awwwww soft spot for someone who has a favourite microbe! I get it lol

[@SirAwesomeVille]

What a random thing to love with such passion. You, sir have made my day slightly better, because the world is fascinating and I love people being fascinated by it.

[@thaweezl8852]

I just found one of your other channels. I stand in total awe that so much good intention can be carried by one human. Thank you.

[@Ethonra]

I cannot recall the last time Ze Frank had so much fun mocking an animal. It was nice seeing him enjoy it this much.

[@caosisaac]

Not since the majestic oppih

[@ongeri]

A moment of silence for the unfortunate gazelle at 10:57 that ran into a mud pool to get away from a pack of wild dogs only to be shredded by a fellow herbivore, nature is beautiful😢

[@m.v.gonzalez5575]

Hippos eat meat from time to time... iirc there was that time of an endemic desease in the nile river Hippos that truned up to be originated bcos they canibalise on the infected dead hipppos floating in the river

[@chemicalwonderland2492]

Nature has no mercy

[@shuepsx652]

As sad as it is to see, I'd rather be killed by a hippo and then be eated by wild dogs than be killed by the dogs. I love them but they can't kill by suffocation like a lion or a leopard, they start ripping apart and eating as soon as they can

[@Stringbean1138]

​@@shuepsx652 honestly, fair point

[@icycrusader1947]

​@@shuepsx652I see that you know how the wild dogs hunt as well. For me it's honestly a toss up. On one hand it's being ripped apart while alive but on the other it's potential bouts of suffocation from hippo mouth and/or from drowning especially in that hippo water. Furthermore since the hippo is a herbivore your body will probably be left rotting on pool floor, wasteful meat that could have been used for wild dog puppies.

[@shmoogersgoml2437]

Truly hope that you, Mr. Ze Frank, enjoy these videos as much as the millions of us. They only continue to get better.

[@jakes.house.]

Yeah the original stuff was already amazing but it really feels like he's refined his art this past year since he's been back

[@stuiedaman]

Literally millions, it's mind blowing

[@Nanzi007]

@@jakes.house. BIG time!

[@MrEyelovephoto]

Amen to that!!!🎉

[@TheLyleHawthorne]

The Duck

[@53rdand3rdShows]

Thank you for blurring certain parts -even with the comedy it was classy of you ✌🏽 that was an excellent video.

[@MsYellowSkies]

Thank you for blurring th baby scene. I was watching ur channel to cope with a hard day in class. My mind couldnt take anything like that in full. Ur videos are great and i love the humor so much

[@rysie7383]

"Nope honey, that's a crocodile. Hot! Hot!" As a mom, I felt that.

[@mattmorehouse9685]

I would think it's the other way round. The croc's probably thinking; "Dear God, I need to heat up so I can run away. Damnit, sun work faster!"

[@BMAN-eb4jk]

Oh for god sakes…

[@timwoods2852]

I could feel that poor crocodile sweating!

[@MoonLitChild]

"And they sound like farts. Science!" I think for sheer density of humor this is one of his best in a while

[@Davealapoo]

This is some of the best raw footage you've had in a while, and that's not to belittle previous episodes. Thanks, academia!

[@davidleekalbjr.3035]

You never fail to entertain me. Your voice, and humor, combined with education. Plus, you make a story about the whole subject. I wish I had you as my natural science teacher in school.

[@melissafrederick4328]

"Learning best how to hippopotam." In a video full of excellent lines this was my favorite.

[@adroitws1367]

yeah, it give me a strange sensation like wholesome, funny, weird, but also obvious and inevitable

[@raeandringa7260]

it's PRETTY good 🤣

[@jpdoe9005]

I love how when watching Ze Frank videos you have to keep yourself from losing your shit so you don't miss the next joke. Just outrageously hilarious and informative at the same time

[@KoyasuNoBara]

I gave up on that method over a decade ago. I just prepare to pause at anytime and then rewind a bit when I'm done.

[@Jimjolnir]

@@KoyasuNoBara Yep, it can take, on average, 5 minutes longer to watch a True Facts vid! Pause, rewind... xD

[@redactedredactedredacted1090]

It reminds me of Philomena Cunk lol

[@emilymiller82]

Must resist ROFLMAO while husband sleeps!

[@zoyadulzura7490]

@@KoyasuNoBara That's the only way I can watch these videos--pausing and rewinding.

[@veggiemanx]

Great video as always! Have been watching your content for well over a decade now! Super greatful for the time you put into these!

[@OmanutOnamut]

man i just feel your hidden under the carpet happiness, like on a global positive scale, you're such a great persona and whatever life brought upon you you came out with such deep undestanding of things, you're contribution is such a gift

[@MrFivefivefivesix]

One day, I would like to see Jerry do an entire episode all by themselves. If possible, release it on April 1st.

[@nhmooytis7058]

Is Jerry’s pronoun ‘they?’😊

[@fennecfoxfanatic]

So tomorrow?

[@marcelinokwiek9821]

​@@nhmooytis7058 them pronouns got outta hand

[@nhmooytis7058]

@@marcelinokwiek9821 it’s OK for someone to use THEY if they have a tapeworm 😂

[@bobbodaskank]

10 minutes of dead silence over some really bonkers footage. Then Ze comes in at the end and is like "What are you doing, Jerry? Recording? They can't hear you, Jerry, you don't have a voice."

[@fishea]

So many hippo things I did not know at all! The whale connection, the shared shit soup, the sunscreen sweat... I'm speechless. Ze Frank is once again Ze Man!! (kill me)

[@tjarkschweizer]

"later"

[@HeinSmit1]

When I was younger it was said that they sweat blood, glad to have that cleared up lol

[@robertabessey7990]

I absolutely love your videos!!!! Thank you for making learning so much fun. We all enjoy it very much.

[@nickfavreau6292]

Thank you for yet another amazing show! 🥰

[@Redkrovvy]

I absolutely cannot avoid smiling (and laughing loud enough to scare my dog) when I watch these. Ze Frank must be protected at all costs.

[@brittany1049]

Keep him away from the hippos, then.

[@mickcollins1921]

Is there a threat that we are unaware of? Do you have some critical intelligence suggesting his safety is compromised? TELL US!

[@fartzinwind]

Remember when there was a few years hiatus... The world sucked ever so slightly more as a whole during those times

[@mayhemdiscordchaosohmy573]

@@brittany1049 I'm not too sure that it's the hippos we need worry about! Its Jerry that's the REAL danger!

[@mayhemdiscordchaosohmy573]

@Bite Police 🅥 go bite yourself!

[@TM-rc3ck]

“Out there alone with your mother, learning how to hippopotam.” I love your content.

[@CarBENbased]

Amazing as always Ze! That really is fascinating about how their poop affects their environment!

[@Jimjolnir]

Ze, you're amazing. Just when you think it couldn't get any better. This is now one of my favourites. I had to pause and rewind so many times to catch up with my giggle-fits! :D

[@DraeaTube]

Seriously, he makes me actually laugh out loud every single time without fail. “Kom-poop-cha.” Priceless.

[@Schmitzelhaus]

To this day pretty much every single one of his "...butt, sorry, ..., but" - jokes makes me laugh. What can i say, i guess i´m pretty easily entertainted... 😅

[@Mightylcanis]

@@Schmitzelhaus And then he hits us with a "but, doctors- Sorry, butt doctors . . ."

[@nothisispatrick4644]

If someone described Hippoe's as "swimming murder pigs who hate all things that breath" I wouldnt even try to correct him.

[@argylewarrior1]

i would also settle for "walking murder whales who hate all things."

[@michaelfoxbrass]

@@argylewarrior1 I removed my reply as we were tracking the same thoughts and you beat me posting!

[@Sonichero151]

You just gotta watch a fully grown male Lion freak the fuck out and desperately run away from a hippo to really understand just how brutal they can get

[@genericname2747]

So they're like normal pigs

[@rolandvogt1193]

These never disappoint - good information and humor all rolled into one.

[@meph1570]

11:08 "and that's just how the [animal] do" ahh...thank you Mr. Frank, i missed those signature lines of yours.

[@EduardoJFernandez]

Wonderful episode, and thank you for the generous 'thank you' in the credits as well. Now everyone can enjoy all things hippos as much as I do too! :)

[@jenlc1536]

Thanks for your contribution! We animal fans are grateful!

[@fredericapanon207]

I second what Jen C said. Thank you for answering all of @ZeFrank's questions.

[@4school7]

Yes!! I'll parrot what was said below, Big Thanks Dr. Fernandez!!

[@Daelyah]

Big thank you for your work! Always nice to learn a little more about the different animals in the world, regardless of whether I ever encounter them or just decide they're cool enough to use in stories. 🥰

[@ilajoie3]

I'm glad we get to learn about the forwards hippo today, it's been years since we learned about the backwards hippo

[@gman0970]

Your humor and presentation is always just phenomenal

[@bleakdestiny6095]

One of your best yet! ❤❤❤

[@williamaldred335]

I love the non-chalance of the Rhino looking at the hippo. "Bruh, I am a heavy assualt unicorn, don't do this"

[@DrachenGothik666]

"Heavy assault unicorn" had me rolling!🤣

[@carjax777]

As a studying Natural Resource management major who will hopefully be working in the field of wildlife biology. I have to say thank you so much for making these videos and giving this upcoming generation the kind of educational entertainment Animal Planet gave me when I was a kid with people like Steve Irwin. I know your inspiring the next generation of biologists! Keep up the good work Ze!

[@ukmedicfrcs]

* You're *

[@tarico4436]

@@ukmedicfrcs Also, that period after "biology" should be a comma. Very irritating. So OK, you're 14, right? Not you, ukmedic, but the op. If ............ omg. I have to stop. I could rewrite carjax'es entire comment. Great comment, but sad grammatical errors. And to even mention that professional animal teaser is over the line.

[@bucsr.6106]

It is edutainment. More schools need it. 😂

[@YumLemmingKebabs]

Uh... I wouldn't show this to a kid before they're at least high school aged. XD

[@bucsr.6106]

@@YumLemmingKebabs this is for adults.

[@wendychavez5348]

Your power to make education amusing is phenomenal! Thank you, ZeFrank, for everything you do!

[@jamesroberts1410]

I just found this channel and it's an instant favorite. Facts and humor put together so well that is quite scary.

[@Minemuscle]

Truly terrifying creatures. Proceed with caution.

[@censoredbybigbrother1175]

I think these are also the most deadly of all animals as they are just agressive af.

[@thatman666]

Considering the pressure force their jaws can do, yeah not worth it.

[@someoneudontknow3709]

Especially considering all that blubber there carrying around ain't blubber Hippo bodies have a fat percentage of 2% meaning what we thought was fat is almost pure muscle They are born built like the human equivalent of a weight lifter world record holder Imagine being born looking like an obese baby but at the same time capable of carrying your own mother out of the hospital

[@mikeoxmall69420]

Proof that herbivores can be just as dangerous as carnivores and omnivores

[@shadowdragon3521]

@@censoredbybigbrother1175 Depends if you count disease-carriers such as mosquitoes

[@cmpork7145]

I love how there's points where Ze struggles to stay in character when he laughs

[@niklaswassermann9971]

Well, crap. I noticed you were back around a week ago and have now succefully deprived myself of any more videos to watch because I was so excited I didn't pace myself with your content. Goddamn great to have you back!

[@LeaC-lw8xl]

I watch your vids many times because they are interesting & funny & the photography is terrific. Thank you Ze!

[@sirvere4840]

you and Casual Geographic should TOTALLY do a video together, you both crack me up and inform me at the same time.

[@lucienfortner841]

Yeeeeesssssss

[@littlewitch5414]

I totally second this. I don't know how they will, because theirtone of humor differs a bit from each-other, but this is totally something that should happen.

[@sirvere4840]

@@littlewitch5414 the difference is EXACTLY why i think it would work, frank has more of a dry humor where as Casual is more dark and they both work very well together

[@darcieclements4880]

I don't know how the styles would mash. I guess cg could do interjected commentary or zf could do a video on "biologist" as a species and include cg among others. I'd totally donate footage of my nerd house with it's microscope, strange sanitation that looks unsanitary and ultra fancy pet snake enclosure. Lol. Biologist/zoologist(older title starting to get used again) are a special breed.

[@sirvere4840]

@@darcieclements4880 i think CG could be a better version of Jerry, could work

[@bskec2177]

11:05 Lion "I'm king of the jungle!" Hippo "Welcome to the river, bitch"

[@conniepatterson7215]

Thank you for your videos. Many times they have made life so much easier by reminding me to not be too serious, and to lighten up and laugh. Thank you thank you!!

[@TP-ie6yk]

😂 I love watching your videos. Never ceases to make me laugh. You’re narrating style makes them easy to understand and watch. Far from boring.

[@Chaosqueenngami]

10:20 And that was the antelopes queue to get the F out of there.

[@fibropapillomatosis]

Watching these videos is always motivational. I'm struggling to finish a PhD (sea turtle stuff) and content like this helps me keep going. Hearing Ze and Caitlin (and Jerry) bring science to the masses in an uniquely approachable format...well, it makes me long for the day that I too will be bestowed the title of "science hippie".

[@sdfkjgh]

@fibropapillomatosis: Sea Turtle Stuff sounds like a great name for a Pop/Punk band.

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

I hope you keep up with the sea turtle work! We love those animals, and science is awesome! (I also scuba dive) So best of luck, a stranger wishes you well!

[@TeamCat1128]

❤

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Are you researching how to rope turtle shells to make a raft?

[@flashaxl]

I bet you collaborate with the smartest science hippie for your PhD, Mr. et. al. The dude is in every paper.

[@riverbender9898]

Your videos are always a treasure! Thank You.

[@mazrad11]

That made my heart happy. Thanks Zefrank

[@foooosh]

every day that zefrank releases another true facts video is a good day

[@TippyHippy]

l put my hamster in a sock and slammed it against the furniture

[@foooosh]

@@TippyHippy relatable

[@tomi6261]

This is one of your better videos imo. Awesome as always!!

[@frankG335]

You are my favorite narrator ever. The things you come up with are so creative and funny! This is how to do it- people learn while being entertained.

[@051adam]

Ty sir! By calling a hippo a "meat beachball" you have literally made my day worthwhile as I just shot water out of my nose and onto my desk. I am forever grateful as always... and thank you for all you do and the content you create!

[@precisionhaze6594]

Get off your knees bro lmao

[@2degucitas]

At least the desk is clean now

[@jenlc1536]

That's the wrong end if you are trying to imitate a hippo

[@genericname2747]

Are you a hippo

[@tanuki88]

I remember watching True Facts about the Seahorse. Hard to believe that was 10 years ago! Thanks for the decade of entertainment ❤

[@regentvoo]

Wait what?? We been with ze frank for so long?? Wow, he's been doing this since 13. A legend

[@NicolasEsteban]

Dude, I'm having a blast while working. This is the best channel on youtube!!!

[@carlosmaldonado2895]

By far my favorite zefrank video!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@briangruenewald7536]

8:53 That is _indeed_ a funny joke 😂 Thank you for posting this educational hilarity on my birthday, ZeFrank ❤

[@ekzac]

Hippy Birthday 😁

[@dar13rell]

Happy birthday🎉

[@SuziQ.]

Happy Birthday! 🎉 It’s Ze’s birthday, too.

[@ThreatInstinct]

Hippo Birthday

[@khosegier3182]

The side conversations with Jerry make these videos the best nature docs of all time!

[@micaelahill8905]

I really want to know if there actually is a Jerry

[@SuziQ.]

@@micaelahill8905 , I think he’s invisible.

[@adams3560]

@@micaelahill8905 Jerry is Ze Frank’s split personality

[@nicholasrpatton]

Best episode yet Ze Frank!

[@temperingtantrum]

Great video Ze Frank. Love the hippo cut scene

[@darkdragoness5]

Fun fact, my dad used to jokingly add hippopotamus to my name when I was a kid (apparently I was adorable like a baby hippo (and they are pretty adorable)). This video coming out a few days before my birthday feels like a early birthday present and I'm so happy about that.

[@camrendavis6650]

11:10 Simba done f**ked up 😂 "You may be king of the jungle but dis my f**king lake"

[@marshall4439]

Hey Ze Frank, great video as usual. Would love to see one from you about vultures and buzzards! I absolutely love your videos, joined Curiosity Stream! Great rec :D

[@Stefanie_Thompson_Fithian]

You are hysterical. And I really needed a good laugh tonight. Thank you. ❤