The hippo cow is a large, omnivorous, domesticated animal indigenous to the Fire Nation,[1][2] though after the Hundred Year War, these creatures were also kept on Earth Kingdom farms.[3] By the late Hundred Year War, they were among the most important sources of meat and milk for the Fire Nation.[4]
History[]
One of these creatures ran loose in a Fire Nation bazaar visited by Team Avatar. After seeing the animal enjoy a meal of meat, Sokka was inspired to use it as a persuasive argument to coax Aang into entering a meat shop with them, referring to the animal while noting that even the meat ate meat.[1]
Several hippo cows were kept on a small farm not far from the capital of the state of Yi.[3]
Anatomy[]
The hippo cow has a small set of horns and floppy ears and is mostly white with irregular black spots on its skin. It has the head and body of a hippopotamus but the horns and coloring of a cow, with short, stubby, hippo-like legs that end in cow-like hooves; female hippo cows also have udders.[1][4]
Behavior[]
While hippo cows are relatively slow and docile, some farmers still prefer to keep a safe distance from them.[4][5] Though they are rarely aggressive, they can might use their large mass to crush people who annoy them.[4] Hippo cows are carnivorous creatures,[5] and produce milk.[4]
Connection[]
The hippo cow has the body shape of the real-life hippopotamus. However, its horns, udders, and colors are that of a Friesian cow. Despite the fact that both of its namesakes are normally herbivorous, the hippo cow is an omnivore. The hippopotamus is known to scavenge corpses already killed by crocodiles in times of need; similarly, the hippo cow is seen eating the meat of already dead animals.
Trivia[]
- A flying, fire-breathing hippo cow carrying Fire Lord Ozai on its back appeared in one of Aang's nightmares.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 O'Bryan, John (writer) & Dos Santos, Joaquim (director). (September 28, 2007). "The Headband". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 2. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ Avatar Extras for "The Headband" on Nicktoons Network.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hamilton, Joshua (writer) & Heck, Colin (director). (October 3, 2014). "After All These Years". The Legend of Korra. Book Four: Balance. Episode 1. Nick.com.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures From Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, page 44.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Avatar: The Last Airbender (Magic: The Gathering), "Hippo-Cows" card (default version).
- ↑ O'Bryan, John (writer) & Spaulding, Ethan (director). (November 16, 2007). "Nightmares and Daydreams". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 9. Nickelodeon.