Get ready to meet one of nature’s most powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus…

Hippo Facts

Hippo Facts

1) Hippos are large semi-aquatic mammals, with a large barrel-shaped body, short legs, a short tail and an enormous head! They have greyish to muddy-brown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath.

2) They are considered the second largest land animal on Earth (first place goes to the elephant!). Males measure around 3.5m long and 1.5m tall, and can weigh up 3,200kg. That’s as much as three small cars!

3) To stay cool in the blistering African heat, hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. Their eyes, nose and ears are located on the top of their head, which means they can see and breathe whilst submerged in the water. What’s more, these super-cool creatures sweat an oily red liquid which helps protect their skin from drying out – and acts as a sunblock, too! Cool, huh?

4) These magnificent mammals were once found throughout all sub-saharan Africa. Sadly, populations have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Today, they are largely confined to protected areas in East African countries.

5) Hippos are most active at night, when they forage for food. They are herbivores, and eat mostly grass – and boy do they eat grass! In just one night, they can guzzle down up to 35kg of their favourite grub!

Hippo Facts

6) Despite their enormous size, hippos are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater. When completely submerged, their ears and nostrils fold shut to keep water out.

7) Hippos usually live in groups (or “herds”) of around ten to 20 individuals, led by one large dominant male. The other members are females, their young and a few young non-breeding males.

8) Dominant males are very protective over their group. To warn off rival males, they open their huge mouths and display their long, curved canines! They also make loud grunts and aggressive splashes in the water.

9) Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. Soon after birth, the mother and her baby join up with other cows and calves for protection against predators, such as crocodiles, lions and hyenas.

10) In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. In captivity, they tend to live longer and may reach up to 50 years old.

Photos: Hippo family: Sergey Uryadnikov, Dreamstime. Hippo with jaws open: Johannes Gerhardus Swanepoel, Dreamstime.
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COMMENTS

  • Asa

    I love this so cool

  • dattu

    nice good

  • Pug

    Cool

  • Thv

    Cool

  • I love it!

  • NatGeoLover10

    This is amazing I learnt a lot about hippos now

  • Aranna

    This is very good I like it I will do it again thank you for letting me be on here they you so much so cool love it

  • Rose

  • Broccoli :v

    This is amazing ;-;

  • This is amazing ;-;

  • blackpoodle23

    awesome

  • niko (i'm a girl)

    hippos are my favourite animals and I have found out a lot about them, they have super interesting characteristics. I love it

  • n

    this was amazing, I found out a lot about hippos, as they are my favourite animal I loved the website

  • Giraffe

    ❤️ hippos

  • This was really good facts! Thank you for sharing these :)

  • DUDE WHAT I NEVER KNEW THESE BRUH NATION GEOGRAPHIC THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dqrksxnz

    I LOVE WILDLIFE

  • hi

  • Calvin Mikell

    wow

  • I really liked these facts they were very interesting and now I know more about hippos!

  • Fabian

    I really liked these facts they were very interesting and now I know more about hippos

  • oliviab

  • Spectacular!

  • gia delva

    wow!

  • Sophie B.

    Awesome facts!

  • Emma

    I really liked these facts they were very interesting and now I know more about hippos!

  • Max

  • Logan Weil

    i like this

  • i like this

  • JULISSAPENA

    COOL THIS REALLY HELPED ME WITH MY SCHOOL PROJECT ABOUT HIPPOS

  • ian.brunson.2030

    I love hippos sins i was a kid

  • loic

    hi

  • Premil Miyanadeniya

    The second largest land mammal is the White Rhino

  • 8fkjhsjfhsfjfjhsjfskl

    :)

  • Amazing Wow

  • LOL

  • It was ok

  • amazing animals hippos are

  • Great facts

  • Talia

    Great

  • Elipokea sumari

    Keep reseach about this lovely creatures. Thanks

  • Micah

    awsome. thanks

  • TheRealSpinoRex

    Wow! Hippos were my favourite animal but now I like Pangolins!

  • masterlearner

    hippos are amazing creatures

  • Owen

    WOW that is cool

  • lily

    wow that rocks

  • lily

    wow! this is cool

  • Lily

    wow! this is cool

  • octonaut

    awesome

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    LOL

  • Bella_girl

    Awesome bawesome, wow, wow, wow!

  • Smithy

    Wow! Great info here

  • lillyo

    COOL REALLY COOL

  • lillyo

    love the information but put a really more colurlove hippopostmet so I `will chat to you later

  • MTBear

    These facts are so interesting. Arent baby hippos just so cute!!!

  • monkeyboy110

    This is awsome!

  • Ellayay

    I love that! So interesting! By the way, there is a fact on there twice! Thanks xx

  • lottje

    Love it!

  • AMIMALLUVVER

    Those facts were interesting, btw I love hippos theyre so cute!

  • rigby

    your web stinks

  • Riggby

    I hate you

  • Anna7465836328474

    I love hippos!

  • TDA046

    lol

  • TDA046

    i love it

  • TDA046

    they is cute

  • alex

    I LOVE HIPPOS :)

  • Ilovekittens

    Hippos are amazing, they have interesting history that i love to read, i love animals, especially hippos!

  • stampy-jnr

    awesome ten facts

  • fhghsdtgghf

    hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh6h546 51157+

  • aisha123

    lovley facts about hippos

  • yasmim

    i am love the hippos

  • Jami

    Hippos are so cute

  • Jami

    Cool

  • Olly

    so cute

  • warren

    C O O L

  • loop

    awsome

  • IAMAWESOME

    Hippos behavior is really interesting! #AnimalsAreCool!!!

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