We bring you the world’s most luxurious handmade stuffed plush animals. Not just great
personal gifts, these beautiful pieces make great mascots, corporate gifts,
and display pieces for homes, offices, theatre, commercial and movie props.
Collectors young and old agree these are keepsakes for a lifetime!
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for “river horse”, is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two
extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other is the Pygmy Hippotamus). The hippopotamus is the third largest land animal (after the elephant and the white rhinoceros)
and the heaviest extant artiodactyl, despite being considerably shorter than the giraffe. The hippopotamus is semi-aquatic, inhabiting riers and lakes where territorial bulls preside
over a stretch of river and groups of 5 to 30 females and young. During the day they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water.
They emerge at dusk to graze on grass. While hippopotamuses rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land.
Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, their closest livign relatives are cetaceans (whales, porpoises, etc) from which they diverged
about 55 million years ago. The common ancestor of whales and hippos split from other even-toed ungulates around 60 million years ago. The earliest known hippopotamus fossils,
belonging to the genus Kenyapotamus in Africa, date to around 16 millino years ago.
The hippopotamus is recognizable by its barrell shaped torso, enormous mouth and teeth, nearly hairless body, stubby legs and tremendous size. It is the third-largest land
mammal by weight, behind the white rhinoceros and both species of elephant. Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can easily outrun a human. Hippos have been clocked at
19mph over short distances. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as the most ferocious animal in Africa. There are an
estimated 125,000 to 150,000 hippos throughout Sub-Saharan Africa; Zambia and Tanzania possess the largest populations. They are still threatened by habitat loss and poaching
for their meat and ivory canine teeth.
Five subspecies of hippos have been described based on morphological differences in their skulls and geographical differences:
- Amphibius - (the nominate subspecies) which stretched from Egypt, where they are now extinct, south up the Nile River to Tanzania and Mozambique.
- Kiboko - In the Horn of Africa, in Kenya and Somalia. Kiboko is the Swahili word for hippo. Broader nasals and more hollowed interorbital region.
- Capensis - from Zambia to South Africa. Most flattened skull of the subspecies.
- Tschadensis - throughout Western Africa to, as the name suggests, Chad. Slightly shorter and wider face, with prominent orbits.
- Constrictus - in Angola the southern Democratic Republic of Congo and namibia. Named for its deeper preorbital constriction.
The suggested subspecies were never widely used or validated by field biologists; the described morphological differences were small enough that they could have resulted from
simple variation in non-representative samples. Genetic analyses have tested the existence of three of these putative subspecies. A study examining mitochondrial DNA from skin
biopsies taken from 14 sampling locations, considered genetic diversity and structure among hippo populations across the continent. The authors found low but significant genetic
differentiation among Amphibius, Capensis , and Kiboko. Neither Tschadensis nor Constrictus have been tested.
Gloria
66” Hippopotamus
Luxury
All our animals are
hand-made from the
finest animal artisans in
the world.
They are life-like, some
lifesize and all realistic
with careful attention to
detail.
They make an
impressive gift, whether
corporate or personal,
but also make a
statement as a
corporate mascot or
display at your
company’s
headquarters.
Our animals are used
for staging homes for
sale, creating themed
weddings, conventions
and events where these
furry friends add a real
‘wow factor’.
Our life-like plush,
resin, fiberglass, bronze
animals have also been
used in museums, as
well as theatrical props
in movies, commercials
and on live stage
productions all over the
world.
Photography Studio Props - Interior design Staging for home rental or sale Non-taxidermy Props for Commericals,
Television, Movies and Theatre Stage Museum displays Themed Decor for weddings, parties, corporate events
Corporate gift ideas and Mascots, College and other school Mascots, Luxury gifts for, friends, family or yourself. Luxurious
Costumes for Carnevale, Halloween and dress-up. Corporate Branding If we don’t have it, we can create it just for you
You deserve the Very Best
