Rare video shows what hippos really sound like and people are delightfully shocked

We’re all well aware of the sounds most common animals make, due in no small part to that classic Fisher Price “ Farmer Says ” toy (remember those?).

But more exotic animals …not so much. Their calls remain a mystery.

Like the hippo , for instance. Who the heck knows off the top of their head what those sound like?

In a video posted to the zoo’s TikTok account, we see three female Nile hippos—Mashavu, Kiboko and Tombi—make a noise that viewers feel is somewhere between a “whoopie cushion” and a “murder kazoo.”

Listen:

Pretty accurate description, right? According to the video’s caption, hippos make a variety of noises. They can roar, grunt, squeal and even communicate underwater! According to the New York Times, hippos will also announce their presence using a “ wheeze honk. ” Talk about knowing how to make an entrance.

Hippos aren’t the only members of the animal kingdom to make strange sounds. Have you ever heard…

A chirping cheetah?

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What noise do Cheetahs make?

Cheetahs will typically issue this call during distress or to locate their young, but have been observed using it in all sorts of scenarios, per Earth.com.

How about a screaming armadillo?

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Screaming Armadillo

The Cincinnati Zoo explains that hairy armadillos will scream when threatened. Relatable.

Or a laughing fox?

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The Foxes Love Me.....Finnegan and Dixie.

It is theorized that foxes only make these “hehe” sounds to get human attention. Mission: accomplished.

It never gets olds learning something new about the cool creatures that share this planet with us.