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Hippopotamus
Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim, CC BY-SA 4.0

Savanna · Mammal

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Hippos spend the day in water to stay cool and come out at night to graze. They look calm, but they are among the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Where it lives
Rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa
Diet
HerbivoreEats plants
Weight
1.3–3 tonnes
Shoulder height
1.5 m
Top speed
30 km/h
Lifespan (wild)
40–50 years

In Pawpedia: What is a mammal?What is a herbivore?

Yaman scale

Drawn side by side with Yaman, to the same scale.

Hippopotamus: shoulder height 1.5 m — that's 1 times Yaman's height. 0.25 m0.5 m0.75 m1 m1.25 m1.5 m Yaman · 1.5 m Hippopotamus · 1.5 m
Shoulder height1Yamans

Hippopotamus: shoulder height 1.5 m — that's 1 times Yaman's height.

Weight61Yamans

Around 2.2 tonnes — as heavy as 61 Yamans.

Common questions

Where does the hippopotamus live?

Rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. In our zoo it lives in the Savanna zone.

What does the hippopotamus eat?

It is a herbivore: it eats plants.

How big does the hippopotamus get?

Shoulder height: 1.5 m. It weighs 1.3–3 tonnes.

How long does the hippopotamus live?

40–50 years in the wild.

How fast is the hippopotamus?

It can reach about 30 km/h.

Is the hippopotamus endangered?

On the IUCN Red List it is listed as vulnerable. Numbers are falling; it will be in danger without protection.

Got another question? Ask Yaman

Did you know?

  • Hippos can't really swim — they walk or bounce along the bottom.
  • Their skin makes a reddish liquid that works like sunscreen.
  • They can open their mouths almost 180 degrees.

How safe is it?

  1. LC
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX

Vulnerable. Numbers are falling; it will be in danger without protection.

IUCN Red List

How can you help these animals?

More from the Savanna zone

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