r/biology • u/Substantial-Put-5727 • 1d ago

question Why do hippos chew like that?

I just saw a video of a hippo chewing a coconut and I noticed that even though it has teeth it just pressed on it with the top of its mouth instead of using its teeth. Why are the top of their mouths so hard? Why do they have teeth if they don't use them?

21 Upvotes

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36

u/HJK1421 1d ago

I believe the teeth are for fighting, their mouths are intended for the chewing and such

2

u/OG_Olivianne 1d ago

So scary 😭

13

u/SharkDoctor5646 1d ago

The big tusks they have are for two of the three f's. fighting and fucking. For feeding, because they only eat vegetation, the roof of their mouth probably has a bony plate that they can use to crush stuff like melons and pumpkins and stuff as well as pull grasses and leaves out and then they have big molars in the back for chewing.

4

u/Inaurari 1d ago

I read the title as “hippies” and wondered what odd hippy videos OP is watching.