Hippopotamuses are large, round, water-loving animals that are native to Africa. The hippo is the world’s third largest land animal after the elephant and the Rhino. Hippos are found in the central and southern portion of the continent of Africa.
Fast Facts about Hippopotamus
1. There are two types of hippos: common hippo and pygmy hippo. Common hippos are much larger animals. They can reach 12 feet in length and weigh up to 7000 pounds. Pygmy hippo can reach 5.7 feet in length and weigh up to 600 pounds.
2. The name Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek ‘river horse’.
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3. Despite it’s appearance, the Hippopotamus is actually thought to be most closely related to Whales as the two are thought to have had a common ancestor that existed roughly 54 million years ago.
4. Hippopotamuses spend a large amount of time in water such as rivers, lakes and swamps. When they dive, their ears and nostrils close automatically.
5. The hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive creatures in the world and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. However, if threatened on land it will often run for water.
6. A male hippopotamus is called a ‘bull’. A female hippopotamus is called a ‘cow’ and a baby hippo is called a ‘calf’. A group of hippos in known as a ‘herd’, ‘pod’, ‘dale’ or ‘bloat’.
7. Hippos eat mostly grass. Hippos spend most of their time in water because they don’t have sweat glands and that is the only way to prevent overheating.
8. Hippos are really big! They can grow up to 10 feet long, 5 feet high at the shoulder, and 7000 pounds. But don’t go near a Hippo, although hippos might look a little chubby, they can easily outrun a human.
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9. They are only territorial while in the water. Both reproduction and birth occur in the water. Hippo calves weigh approximately 45kg at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils.
10. You would think that hippos are great swimmers as they spend much of their time in the water, however, they don’t really swim. What they do is bound or walk along the bottom of the river. They do have a lot of fat which helps them to float a bit, but once they sink they need to walk to shallow water to get back to the surface. Hippos live up to 45 years in the wild.
