There are several known extinct species of Hippopotamus, in addition to the living H. amphibias. H. antiquus lived from the early to middle Pleistocene, with a range covering most of Europe, reaching as far into Asia as Georgia. It seems to have spent even more time in the water than its relatives. By contrast, its small descendant, the Cretan dwarf hippo, H. creutzburgi, was mostly terrestrial. During the same period, H. gorgops inhabited the rivers of East and North Africa, and the Levant.
In the middle to late Pleistocene H. melitensis lived on Malta, while H. pentlandi occupied Sicily. Although both were 'dwarf' species, they weren't much smaller than modern hippos. The Cypriot dwarf hippo H. minor, however, was quite diminutive and survived into the early Holocene. On Madagascar, another dwarf species, H. lemerlei, lasted until around 1,000 years ago.
Hippopotamus antiquus
ST 38;
DX 9;
IQ 3;
HT 13.
HP 38;
Will 11;
Per 11;
FP 13;
Speed 4.00;
Dodge 7;
Move 4.
SM +3 (14 hexes), 7,000 lbs.
Bite (12): 4d+3 impaling. Reach C.
Trample (12): 4d+4 crushing.
Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 3; Breath Holding 2; DR 4; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 8); Night Vision 2; Parabolic Hearing 2; Peripheral Vision; Quadruped; Subsonic Hearing; Terrain Adaptation (Mud); Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-11; Survival (River/Stream)-12.
For H. creutzburgi (900 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 19, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR to 2. Add half a level of Enhanced Move (Ground Speed 12). Damage becomes 2d with a bite, 2d+1 with a trample.
For H. gorgops increase ST and HP to 42, which raises damage to 4d+5 with a bite or 4d+6 with a trample.
For H. melitensis or H. pentlandi (both about 2,200 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 26, SM to +2 (4 hexes), and DR to 3. Damage becomes 2d+3 with a bite, 2d+4 with a trample.
For H. minor (300 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 12, SM to 0 (2 hexes), and DR to 1. Damage becomes 1d with a bite, 1d+1 with a trample.
For H. lemerlei (1,000 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 20, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR to 2. Damage becomes 2d with a bite, 2d+1 with a trample.
