Hippopotamus are huge, giant, and fascinating animals that make a variety of sounds that might surprise you! From grunts and roars to what many describe as a hippo screaming, these sounds are a big part of how hippos communicate with each other. Their body language and sound is the modes of communication they have. Most of their communications take place under the water, and that sound travels deep in the river. People are very interested in knowing what sound a hippo makes. Hippos are widely famous for their huge size and various types of sounds. Let’s find out what sound a hippo makes and what they mean, so you can better understand these massive creatures.
What Sound Does a Hippo Make?
Hippos are quite vocal animals, and each sound serves a specific purpose in their daily lives. Here are the main sounds they make:
- Roaring: When hippos roar, it can sound like a lion’s roar, but deeper and more guttural. This is used to show dominance, especially in male hippos when they want to assert control over a territory or during a confrontation.
- Grunting and Snorting: These sounds are more common and are often made when hippos are moving around or surfacing from water. A snort may occur when a hippo is clearing its nostrils as it comes up from a dive.
- Laughing or Chuckling: Believe it or not, hippos can make a sound that closely resembles laughter. This happens during social interactions, often when two hippos are being playful or asserting their status in the group.
- Screaming: The term “hippo screaming” describes one of the loudest and most aggressive sounds they make. This scream is a high-pitched, intense bellow that warns others to back off, especially if a hippo feels threatened or if it’s fighting with another hippo over territory or mates.
How Does a Hippo Make Sound?
The general Hippopotamus sound is called honk or growl. Hippopotamus usually make growling sounds. They usually honk while they are communicating under the water. These sounds produced by the hippopotamus can go up to 2 km. The majority of their communication takes place under the water. According to research, it is found that hippos can produce a sound from low rumbles to high pitch. All these sounds have intentions like inducing the partners, making them aware of the danger, and discouraging the enemies.
A hippopotamus uses its nostrils to make sounds above the surface of water and its jawbones to make sounds under the water. This is one of the most unique characteristics of these mammals that sets them apart from others. The most fascinating fact is that hippos can make 115 noises. These sounds are generally made when they are in aggressive mode or there is an increase in their testosterone levels.
Hippos also make grunting and yelling sounds. Dominant hippos generally make such sounds to suppress their community. Some hippos also make infrasounds that are of extremely low frequencies.
The male hippos will mostly produce yelling and grunting sounds. It is found that whenever a male hippo honks, it means that he is the leader of the group, and other hippos listen to their leader about several threats. They also make the laughter sound. These creatures can be risky for you other than their dizzy appearance, which might fool people.
Why Do Hippos Make These Sounds?
Hippos use their voices to communicate in different ways. Whether they’re socializing with other hippos, protecting their territory, or expressing aggression, their sounds convey a lot of information. Here are some reasons why they vocalize:
- Communication: Hippos live in groups called “pods,” and they communicate constantly to maintain social bonds, warn each other of danger, or express their dominance.
- Territorial Behavior: Male hippos are especially vocal when defending their territory. A loud roar or scream warns other males to stay away and can prevent physical fights, although battles do still happen.
- Warning Calls: When a hippo feels threatened, especially by a predator like a lion or crocodile, it may roar or bellow to show its strength and scare off the danger. This is where the term hippo screaming is often applied, as the noise can be deafening!
Where and When Do Hippos Make These Sounds?
Hippos spend a lot of time in water, but they also vocalize on land. Their sounds travel well both above and below water, thanks to their unique body structure.
- Underwater: Hippos are capable of making sounds even when submerged. You might hear them snorting or grunting as they surface. Their underwater sounds are quieter but still effective for communication within the pod.
- At Night: Hippos tend to be more active at night, when they come out of the water to graze. This is also when you’re more likely to hear their loud roars, grunts, and the famous hippo screaming sound, especially if males are competing for territory or mates.
How Loud Are Hippo Sounds?
Hippos are known to be some of the loudest land animals. Their roars and bellows can reach up to 115 decibels, which is about as loud as a rock concert! These sounds can travel great distances, especially in open savannas or across water, which helps hippos communicate with other members of their group.
Fun Facts About Hippo Sounds
- Hippos have “amphibious ears”: They can hear sounds both above and below water, which helps them stay alert and communicate with their pod, even when they’re swimming.
- Babies make noise too: Young hippos, called calves, can make similar sounds to their parents. They grunt and snort to communicate with their mothers, especially when they need protection or food.
- They vocalize while eating: Hippos sometimes make snorting or grunting sounds while grazing, especially if they’re interacting with other members of their group.
What is the Purpose of Underwater Communication?
There are three unique sounds hippos make while they are submerged:
1- One of the distinct sounds that hippos make is click.
2- Next is a tonal whine that indicates the suppressed behaviour.
3- Another sound is a pulsed croak, which is usually produced by the young hippos when they interact with each other.
What are the sounds produced by Hippo while mating?
It is also one of the situations where physical communication plays a vital role. The male may produce sounds like wheezing and honking.The mating display more easily seduces female hippos. It is such a strange mating display. Males are likely to approach the females closely. After that, fluttering his tail to spread and extend the waste all over, he will urinate and excrete at a similar time. The female hippo might also flutter her waste if she finds it exciting.
Conclusion
Hippos make multiple sounds depending on their needs or mood. They produce these sounds with some intentions. These sounds are an integral part of their lives, as it is the medium of communication for them. We hope you enjoyed reading our article and understood what sound a hippo makes. If you want to read more about such interesting topics, read our other article too. Do let us know in the comments if you have any queries or suggestions regarding the sound of the hippo.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1- What sound do the hippos generally make?
Ans: Hippos usually make the sounds of grunting, groaning, and roaring.
Q2- Why Do Hippos Make Sound?
Ans: Hippos generally make sounds to interact and have conversations with other hippos.
Q3- Can Hippos make sound under the water?
Ans: Yes, Hippos can make sound under the water.
Q4- Are hippos one of the loudest animals?
Ans: Yes, hippos are one of the loudest animals.
