IUCN · VULNERABLE · the river horse
One Statue. Two Habitats.
The head attaches to the plaque with a hidden magnet — lift it off whenever you like.
On the shelf: Trophy Hall
Mounted on its wood-grain shield plaque with a brass-style nameplate, it reads like a natural-history-museum exhibit — shrunk to the size of your palm.
Off the plaque: Fridge Guardian
Off the plaque, a wide-open hippo jaw is an unforgettable thing to find on a fridge door — a yawn that is really a warning.
That enormous open mouth is not a yawn. When a hippopotamus gapes, it is showing off its weapons — tusk-like canines that never stop growing — and telling every rival on the river exactly who is in charge. It is one of the most impressive displays in the animal kingdom, captured here in palm size.
The Display
A hippo can open its jaws to roughly 150 degrees, wide enough to show off lower canines that may reach 20 inches. Bulls gape at each other to settle disputes without fighting; most of the time, the display alone wins the argument.
Built-In Sunscreen
Hippos have no sweat glands and almost no hair, so their skin produces its own reddish-orange secretion. Often called ‘blood sweat,’ it is neither — it works as a natural sunscreen and appears to discourage infection.
A Swimmer That Can’t Swim
Despite living in water, an adult hippo does not truly swim. It walks and bounces along riverbeds, surfacing to breathe every few minutes — even, by reflex, while asleep.
Cousin to the Whales
Genetic studies show that the hippo’s closest living relatives are whales and dolphins, not pigs. The species is listed as Vulnerable, pressured by habitat loss and the illegal trade in its ivory-like teeth.
Craft & Specifications
| Series | World Encyclopedia of Animals Vol.3 — by Animal Heavenly Body |
| Approx. Size | H 2.8 in (7 cm) × W 2.0 in (5 cm), plaque included (see Size Sample photo) |
| Material | Premium PU resin, fine hand-painted museum finish |
| Display Base | Wood-grain shield plaque with engraved-style nameplate |
| Magnetic Head | Head attaches by concealed magnet — removable, works as a fridge magnet |
| SKU | AHB-WA03-03 |
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