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Big mouth


Big mouth
Photo Information
Copyright: Michiel Pieterse (michielp) Gold Star Critiquer [C: 71 W: 9 N: 1] (54)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-03-24
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D-70s, 70-300mm Nikon 4-5.6G
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-09-26 23:30
Viewed: 117
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The hippopotamus, whose hide alone can weigh half a ton, is the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. It was considered a female deity of pregnancy in ancient Egypt, but in modern times has been wiped out of that country because of the damage it inflicts on crops. The hippo continues to thrive in other parts of Africa.

An enormous, amphibious mammal with smooth, naked skin. An inflated looking body supported on short, thin legs. Huge muzzle (bigger in males), eyes, nostrils and little ears placed high on the head. Canines enlarged as tusks. Brown to gray purple with pink underparts and creases, short bristles on head, back and tail. The hippo's proportions reflect its sedentary, amphibious existence. Its plump and bulky body is set on short, stumpy legs, with each foot having four toes. Although webbed, the toes splay enough to distribute the weight evenly over each toe and therefore adequately support the hippo on land.

With very thick skin, especially over the back and rump, the grayish-brown body is almost completely hairless, with only a few bristles around the mouth and the tip of the tail. The hippo has neither sweat nor sebaceous glands but does have unique glands that produce a viscous red fluid, leading to the myth that hippos "sweat blood." The hippo relies on water or mud to keep it cool, and the red fluid may have a similar function, but it is often produced in copious amounts when the animal is excited.
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Critiques [Translate]

Impressive shot and beast. Also the most dangerous animal in Africa, you don't want to mess with one of those, they're not know for their patience, and can cut a man in two.

Well exposed, and focus. Good colour saturation. As personnal taste, the contrast could be slightly higher, but just a matter of taste. Good job.

Very scary - but a great shot :)

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