Ancient European Fossil Unveils Early Hippo Presence

The oldest known fossil of the modern hippo species, Hippopotamus amphibius, in Europe has been discovered in Rome. The skull, dating back between 560,000-460,000 years, provides new insights into the early dispersal of hippos in Europe during the Middle Pleistocene. This finding contributes to a better understanding of the deep history of these large mammals and their significance as indicators of past climate and environmental conditions.