10 Hippo Facts!
They’re big, bulky and can deliver one serious chomp!
Get ready to meet one of nature’s most powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus…
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!
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.
Here for the Wild Life Adventure Jeep comp? Hooray! You’ve found the injured baby elephant. It’s time to patch it up and take it back to its herd.
Now head back to the competition page and enter your answer!
Great work, ranger!
Please note this competition is only open to residents of UK and Ireland.
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COMMENTS1
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 :)
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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
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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
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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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