# Hippopotamus (*Hippopotamus amphibius*) Hippopotamuses are large, friendly animals that love to spend time in the water. They have big mouths and short legs, making them look very cute and funny! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Also known as:** Hippo ![Hippopotamus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424256/objects/4528.jpg) ## Appearance The Hippopotamus has an enormous, barrel-shaped body supported by short, thick legs, and a huge head with a very wide muzzle. Its sparse, greyish-brown skin appears almost hairless, and its eyes, ears, and nostrils are uniquely positioned on top of its head. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Hippopotamidae - **Genus:** Hippopotamus ## Interesting facts - A baby hippo is called a calf and is typically born underwater! - Hippos aren't great swimmers; they actually walk or push off the bottom of rivers! - Hippos have the widest mouth of any land animal, opening up to 150 degrees! - Their incredibly thick skin can weigh over 500 kilograms, making them very tough! ## Special abilities - **Submerged Sense:** Hippopotamus has eyes, ears, and nostrils on top of its head that helps them see, hear, and breathe while mostly underwater. - **Natural Sunscreen:** Hippopotamus can secrete a reddish, oily fluid that acts as natural sunscreen and antiseptic, protecting their skin. - **Underwater Walker:** Hippopotamus can close their nostrils and hold their breath to walk or glide along riverbeds for several minutes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 330-520 cm - **Weight:** 1300-3200 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-50 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 240-250 days ## Diet & Feeding These chunky grazers mainly eat short grass by mowing it down with their wide mouths. - **Age differences:** Calves drink milk then slowly transition to grass. - **Primary Foods:** Short grass, Reeds, Fallen fruit - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — often prey on hippo calves in the water. - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — can hunt young or weak adult hippos on land. - **Depends on:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — benefits from hippo waste, fertilizing aquatic plants. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Tusked](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tusked): Characterized by having long, pointed, projecting teeth, usually in pairs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High Always observe hippos from a safe distance in the zoo. They are big and strong, so we need to be careful around them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hippopotamus? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hippopotamus? 330-520 cm ### How much does Hippopotamus weigh? 1300-3200 kg ### How long does Hippopotamus live? 40-50 years ### How fast can Hippopotamus move? 30 km/h ### What does Hippopotamus eat? These chunky grazers mainly eat short grass by mowing it down with their wide mouths. ### How does Hippopotamus hunt? Grazing ### How many babies does Hippopotamus usually have? 1 ## Where to spot - [Memphis Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/memphis-zoo) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Milwaukee County Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/milwaukee-county-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo - [Toledo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/toledo-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [İzmir Doğal Yaşam Parkı](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/izmir-do-al-ya-am-park) — Izmir, TR · Zoo - [ABQ BioPark Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abq-biopark-zoo) — New Mexico, US · Zoo - [Bioparc Valencia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bioparc-valencia) — Valencian Community, ES · Zoo [View all places to see Hippopotamus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hippopotamus) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Hippopotamus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hippopotamus)