Hippopotamus - Hippopotamus amphibius Hippos spend their days in the water due to their smooth skin that is easily burnt by the sun. When hippos go under water their nostrils naturally close and their ears fold down. Hippos' eyes also sit on top of their head so that they can always peer over the water line, even when underwater. Weighing anywhere from 4000 to 7000 pounds, it's no surprise the hippo prefers to spend its time weightlessly in the water, instead of lumbering around on land. Interesting fact: Evansville's Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden is home to the world's oldest hippo in captivity, Donna. Egyptian Fruit Bat - Rousettus aegyptiacus These small flying mammals do not suck blood of people or animals; instead they eat soft fruits and nectar from flowers. Bats use a technique called echolocation to find their food. They make a high-pitched sound that bounces off of objects and returns to them as echoes. From the echo, bats can tell if they are near a tree, an insect, or even a person. Interesting fact: Egyptian fruit bats keep their eyes open when they fly, to use their sight as well as their echolocation.     Burmese Python – Molorus bivattatus Pythons do not have a poisonous bite. Instead, they wrap themselves around their prey and squeeze to suffocate it. A female can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, and she coils around them to protect them while they incubate. Interesting fact: Burmese pythons have small heat sensors along their upper lip to help them find prey.     Rhinoceros – Rhinoceros unicornis The word “rhinoceros” comes from the Greek words for “nose” and “horn.” The Indian rhino is sometimes called “armor-plated,” but it is only covered in thick, folded skin. Unlike their African cousins, the Indian has only one large horn on its nose. Our rhino, Jordie, weighs about 4,500 pounds. Interesting fact: A rhino’s horn is made of keratin, the same substance that makes up our fingernails and hair.