Fossil Discovery in Kenya Reveals Modern-Day Hippos Evolved In Africa

Kimberly Solis
Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:33:18 -0700

Researchers have long suspected that hippos evolved from a family of plant-eating, semi-aquatic mammals called anthracotheres. The ancient animals that roamed freely all the way from North America to Asia inhabited Earth about 40 million years ago. However, scientists could never verify the theory since the only fossils of ancient hippos discovered thus far, dated back just 15 million years. Now thanks to Fabrice Lihoreau, there is finally some proof.