Hippopotamus
Hippopotamuses are large mammals found in sub-Saharan Africa. Their name comes from the Greek word for “river horse” because they're often found in water, which helps them stay cool in the hot, tropical climate where they live.
- Common Name:
- Hippopotamus
- Scientific Name:
- Hippopotamus amphibius
- Type:
- Mammals
- Diet:
- Herbivore
- Group Name:
- School
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- Up to 40 years
- Average Life Span In Captivity:
- Up to 50 years
- Size:
- Up to 16.5 feet long and 5.2 feet tall
- Weight:
- Up to 4.5 tons
The hippo's nose, ears, and eyes are on the top of its head, and they protrude from the water while the rest of its head and its body lie beneath the surface. That way a hippo can breathe, see, and hear even while its body is submerged. When a hippo sinks completely underwater, its nose and ears automatically close so that no water seeps in as they walk along the bottoms of rivers and lakes.
At dusk, hippos leave their watery daytime spot, lumber onto land, and walk as far as 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the water to graze on short grasses, their main food. They are not considered to be very fast moving animals, but in short bursts they can run up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour!
Grazing until dawn, a hippo may eat up to 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of grass a night. They avoid the heat of the sun by returning to a river or lake before sunrise.