Curiousity question for our African Guides - 03/29/15
Looking at photos of open hippo mouths, I notice 2 tusks in the center of the lower jaw pointing straight forward. What function if any do they serve???
Those are for skewering you like a kabob, in order to hold you in place for the big tusks to cut you in half.... 
likely for digging up plant matter.....they graze on land mostly but do believe they also dig up the roots of water plants.....though ingwe's statement has truth to it aswell
Originally Posted by ingwe
Those are for skewering you like a kabob, in order to hold you in place for the big tusks to cut you in half....
YUP!
maddog
Originally Posted by ingwe
Those are for skewering you like a kabob, in order to hold you in place for the big tusks to cut you in half....
Ha ha - and there I allways thought the lower two where their to cradle the "Mokoro" so that the upper two can split it like fire wood!
They stab at one another (fighting) including mouth against mouth. Provides leverage for shoving the opponent, too. When one gains advantage, then is when the tusks can do damage.
No wonder a wounded hippo is so angry and dangerous!
No wonder a wounded hippo is so angry and dangerous!