Editing Hippopotamidae (section)

== Characteristics ==
Hippopotamids are large mammals, with short, stumpy legs, and barrel-shaped bodies. They have large heads, with broad mouths, and nostrils placed at the top of their snouts. Like pigs, they have four toes, but unlike pigs, all of the toes are used in walking. Hippopotamids are [[unguligrade]], although, unlike most other such animals, they have no hooves, instead using a pad of tough connective tissue on each foot. Their stomachs have three chambers, but they are not true [[ruminant]]s.

The living species are smooth-skinned and lack both [[sebaceous gland]]s and [[sweat gland]]s. The outer [[Epidermis (skin)|epidermis]] is relatively thin, so hippos dehydrate rapidly in dry environments.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book|editor= Macdonald, D.|author= Laws, Richard|year= 1984|title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location= New York|pages= [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/506 506–511]|isbn= 0-87196-871-1|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofma00mals_0/page/506}}</ref>

Both the [[incisor]]s and [[canine (tooth)|canine]]s are large and tusk-like, although the canine tusks are by far the larger. The tusks grow throughout life. The postcanine teeth are large and complex, suited for chewing the plant matter that comprises their diets. The number of incisors varies even within the same species, but the general [[dentition|dental formula]] is given in the table below: {{dentition2|2–3.1.4.3|1–3.1.4.3}}