In Africa, two of the biggest mammals are gorillas and hippos. Despite not sharing the same habitats, they could engage in resource competition if they happen to cross paths.
Would gorillas have a chance in such a situation?
Gorillas are the largest apes, yet they are up to 20 times lighter and around 10 times smaller than hippos. Hippos may easily knock out a gorilla due to their smaller stature, and they can strike with greater force. In addition, compared to hippopotamuses, gorillas have smaller mouths, fewer teeth, and lower bite forces. These enormous apes have only their speed to their advantage.
A brief summary of the differences in strength between gorilla vs hippo is provided in the table below:
| Characteristic | Gorilla | Hippopotamus |
|---|---|---|
| Body size | 5 to 6 feet | 9.5 to 16.5 feet |
| Weigh | 500 pound | 5 ton |
| Bite force | 1,300 PSI | 1,827 PSI |
| Speed | 20 to 25 mph | 19 mph |
| Strike force | 12,500 lb.-ft./s | 188,480 lb.-ft./s |
| Behavior | Social; sometimes aggressive | Social; aggressive |
| Diet | Omnivore | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Equatorial Africa | Semi-aquatic; Africa |
| Conservation status | Critically endangered | Vulnerable |
*The data b/w gorilla vs hippo is show that the amphibious Hippopotamus species is referred to in the strength facts and features. Averages for all gorilla species combined are included in the gorilla data. From gorilla species to gorilla species, details can differ.
Multiplying the top speed by the highest weight specified in the table yields the strike forces shown.
Gorilla Vs Hippo: Strength Difference And Facts
1. Body Size
The largest primate in the world is the gorilla, however even though they are the biggest of the great apes, they aren’t that big.
The largest species, mountain gorillas, can reach a height of six feet. The eastern lowland and cross-river gorillas are considerably smaller, with a peak height of hardly five feet and a half.
They are typically shorter than humans in height, and these values relate to the upper threshold.
In actuality, males in the US are 5.9 feet tall on average. Males in the US make up the tallest population, with about 14.5% of them being above six feet tall. In comparison to hippos, which can reach a length of 16.5 feet, both humans and gorillas are far smaller.
Even if a hippo standing on its hind legs can reach a height of 5.2 feet at the shoulder, gorillas are still above the ground. A hippo on all fours is much more gigantic still.
2. Weight
The relationship between larger size and larger body mass is not surprising.
Strong apes, gorillas are capable of lifting 500 pounds. But hippos have a maximum weight of 5 tons, or nine thousand pounds. According to certain reports, hippos only weigh four tons, but in reality, they weigh eight thousand pounds.
Because of this, hippos are 16–20 times heavier than gorillas, giving them a significant advantage in combat. Gorillas could be defeated by hippos by being trampled underfoot.
3. Bite Force
Hippos possess longer tusks, larger mouths, and a bite force of 1,827 PSI in addition to their size and weight.
The force of a gorilla’s bite can reach 1,300 PSI. Their jaws are not as strong as hippos’, though.
Another advantage is that hippos can expand their mouths to a full 180 degrees. They also have tusks that extend over a foot. Compared to other wildlife species, gorillas have long canine teeth, although these teeth only reach a maximum length of two inches.
Their fangs would only be able to puncture the skin of an elephant, which is the same thickness, at this length, but they would not cause any significant harm.
4. Speed
Although gorillas aren’t that lot faster than hippos, they do have an advantage in one particular area speed.
In particular, mountain gorillas are capable of sprinting up to 25 miles per hour. That speed, though, is limited to short distances.
Gorillas can reach up to 20 miles per hour when running, but they are often a little slower. Even though they are slow moving animals, hippos can nonetheless go 19 miles per hour on land. Even though they are big, they can swim well.
Even though hippos can run faster than gorillas, there may be situations in which a hippo can outpace a gorilla.
5. Strike Force
By multiplying the speed at the time of collision by mass, one can determine the strike, or impact, force.
The real strike force varies from person to person and scenario to situation, according to this formula. But we took into account the maximum speed and heaviest weight that each species is capable of reaching for comparative analysis.
This research indicates that when striking an opponent at maximum speed, some of the largest gorillas are able to summon a strike force of up to 12,500 lb.-ft./s, or around 400 pounds of force.
As previously mentioned, hippos weigh significantly more than gorillas and have a striking force of up to 188,480 lb.-ft./s, or 5,860 pounds of force.
That is more than 14 times the strength of gorillas and powerful enough to defeat them in a single blow.
6. Behavior
When it comes to behavior, gorilla vs hippo are completely opposites.
Living in groups, both mammals are sociable. On the other hand, gorillas have relatively peaceful lives. Although they tend to be timid around people and other mammals, they can turn hostile if they feel threatened.
These creatures like to stay to themselves most of the time. These apes have distinct social hierarchies, though males may become hostile during the breeding season.
Furthermore, although conflicts may arise from encounters between two groups or between a group and a lone male, gorillas are not territorial.
Hippos usually lead sedentary lives and are quite gregarious. They are violent and fiercely territorial, though. Over 500 people are killed by them annually, making them the most vicious animal in the world.
When it comes to their offspring, hippos can become even more hostile and frequently attack people or other animals that are in their area.
7. Diet
Hippocampus is a herbivore, despite their violent disposition. Even though they eat a range of plant materials, they are primarily grazers.
Hippos will sometimes consume carrion as well. Their carnivorous impulses are thought to be related to medical conditions or nutritional shortages, as their stomachs are not meant to digest meat.
While they eat a variety of foods, gorillas mostly consume plants. Most of them are browsers, eating ferns, berries, leaves, and fibrous bark.
Insects, particularly termites and ants, are what they also consume.
8. Habitat
Africa is home to both gorilla vs hippo. However, common hippos reside in sub-Saharan Africa, while gorillas are found only in tropical rainforests.
Smaller and weaker than normal hippos, pygmy hippos are found in tropical rainforests, although they are not found in the same geographic region as gorillas.
Gorilla vs hippo are very unlikely to cross paths in the wild.
9. Conservation Status
Gorilla vs hippo have become extinct due to habitat loss and poaching.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), gorilla populations in both the west and the east are currently declining and both are classified as critically endangered.
The conservation status of hippos was assessed by the same Union. Although the population of common hippopotamuses is stable, they are currently regarded as threatened. Pygmy hippos are under threat, and like gorillas, their numbers are dwindling.
The various gorilla vs hippo species’ conservation statuses are displayed in the table below:
| Species | Scientific name | Conservation status | Population size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western gorilla | Gorilla gorilla | Critically endangered | Approx. 100,000 |
| Eastern gorilla | Gorilla beringei | Critically endangered | Approx. 2,600 |
| Common hippopotamus | Hippopotamus amphibius | Vulnerable | 115,000 to 130,000 |
| Pygmy hippopotamus | Choeropsis liberiensis | Endangered | 2,000 to 2,499 |
Sources of the gorilla vs hippo data in the table were WWF and IUCN.
Who Would Win A Fight?
Gorilla vs hippo are unlikely to cross paths in the wild because of their disparate geographic ranges. Gorillas wouldn’t stand a chance if they met, though.
Large, 180-degree-opening mouths, long tusks, and stronger bites are characteristics of hippopotamuses. Their tusks have the ability to puncture gorillas’ skin and harm their internal organs, in addition to crushing their bones with a single bite.
Moreover, the b/w gorilla vs hippo ,the hippos weigh more and are bigger than gorillas. A gorilla could be knocked off by a hippo and trampled underfoot. The only way the gorillas can survive is if they can outrun the hippos.
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