Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
Quick answer
The hippopotamus is a massive semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa, weighing up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Despite a plant-based diet, hippos are highly territorial and are considered one of the most dangerous large animals to humans in Africa. Wild hippos live around 40 to 50 years.
Hippopotamus facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Hippopotamus amphibius |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Rivers, lakes, and wetlands |
| Lifespan | 40–50 years in the wild |
| Weight | 1,000–1,500 kg (2,200–3,300 lb) |
| Top speed | 30 km/h (19 mph) on land |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Hippopotamidae |
| Genus | Hippopotamus |
Where it lives
Rivers, lakes, and wetlands across sub-Saharan Africa.
What is a group of hippopotamuses called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Hippopotamuses is called a bloat. It is also known as a pod.
Baby name
A baby Hippopotamus is called a calf.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Life in and out of water
Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day in water to keep their huge bodies cool and protected from the sun. They cannot truly swim; instead they walk or push off along the riverbed and can hold their breath for around five minutes. Their skin secretes a reddish substance, sometimes called blood sweat, that acts as a natural sunscreen and antibiotic.
Diet and territory
Hippos leave the water at night to graze on grass, eating around 35 kg (80 lb) in a session. Despite their herbivorous diet, bulls are fiercely territorial in water and will defend their stretch of river aggressively, using their enormous jaws and tusk-like canine teeth.
Why hippos are so dangerous
Hippos are responsible for an estimated several hundred human deaths in Africa each year, more than lions or crocodiles. They are unpredictable, surprisingly fast on land, and will capsize boats and attack anything they see as a threat to their territory or young.
Conservation
Hippos are listed as Vulnerable, with populations under pressure from habitat loss as rivers and wetlands are drained or diverted, and from illegal hunting for their meat and ivory canine teeth. Protected reserves and stable water sources are key to their future.
Dig deeper into the Hippopotamus
- Are Hippopotamus Endangered
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — are hippopotamus endangered.
- Are Hippos Dangerous
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — are hippos dangerous.
- Hippo Diet
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — hippo diet.
- Hippo Mother Calves
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — hippo mother calves.
- Hippo Population
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — hippo population.
- Hippo Sweat Sunscreen
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — hippo sweat sunscreen.
- Hippo Vs Rhino
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — hippo vs rhino.
- How Dangerous Are Hippos
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — how dangerous are hippos.
- How Long do Hippopotamus Live?
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — how long do hippopotamus live.
- Pygmy Hippo
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — pygmy hippo.
- What do Hippopotamus Eat
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — what do hippopotamus eat.
- Where do Hippopotamus Live?
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — where do hippopotamus live.
- Why do Hippos Yawn
Dig deeper into hippopotamus — why do hippos yawn.
Explore the Hippopotamus
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Range & geography
Did you know? Hippopotamus facts
- Hippos are among Africa's deadliest large animals to people, killing more humans than lions.
- Despite their bulk, hippos can run at around 30 km/h over short distances on land.
- Their closest living relatives are whales and dolphins, not pigs.
- Hippos secrete a reddish 'blood sweat' that acts as sunscreen and an antibiotic.
- They spend the day in water to stay cool, then graze on land at night.
- A hippo's bite force is around 1,800 PSI, able to bite a small boat in two.
- Hippos cannot truly swim — they move by pushing off the bottom and 'porpoising'.
Diet & feeding
Hippos are bulk grazers, feeding chiefly on short grasses during nightly excursions and eating relatively little for their size — around 40 kg a night — thanks to an energy-conserving lifestyle.
Adaptations
- Eyes, ears, and nostrils sit on top of the head, so a hippo can sense the world while submerged. (Eltringham 1999)
- Reddish skin secretions screen ultraviolet light and inhibit bacteria, protecting hairless skin.
- Enormous canine and incisor tusks grow continuously and are formidable weapons.
- Dense bones and the ability to walk along riverbeds suit a semi-aquatic life.
Behaviour & ecology
- Bulls hold and aggressively defend stretches of water against rivals. (Eltringham 1999)
- Hippos leave the water at night to graze on grass, often travelling several kilometres.
- Mothers are intensely protective, and many attacks involve a perceived threat to a calf.
- Gaping wide-mouth displays and dung-scattering advertise dominance and territory.
Communication
- Hippos produce loud 'wheeze-honks' and grunts that carry across and under water.
- They can vocalise both above and below the surface, an unusual amphibious ability.
- Dung-scattering with a flicking tail marks paths and territorial boundaries.
Habitat & range
The common hippo lives in and around rivers, lakes, and wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa, needing deep water to rest in by day and adjacent grassland to graze by night.
Ecological role
Hippos transfer nutrients from land into rivers through their dung, shaping aquatic food webs and channel structure, and their grazing and trampling help maintain open grazing 'lawns'.
Conservation status of the Hippopotamus
Vulnerable (VU) means a species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future. It is the lowest-risk of the three 'threatened' IUCN categories — one step below Endangered, which is itself below Critically Endangered — and is often an early warning that a population is in trouble.
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is assessed on the IUCN Red List. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Hippopotamus
Are hippos dangerous?
Yes. Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa, blamed for an estimated several hundred human deaths each year. They are highly territorial and will attack boats and people that come too close.
What do hippos eat?
Hippos are herbivores that feed mainly on grass. They leave the water at night to graze, eating around 35 kg (80 lb) of vegetation in a single feeding session.
Can hippos swim?
Not in the usual sense. Hippos are too dense to float easily, so instead of swimming they walk or push off along the bottom of rivers and lakes and can hold their breath for about five minutes.
How fast can a hippo run?
On land, a hippo can run up to about 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances, fast enough to outpace a person despite its enormous bulk.
How much does a hippo weigh?
Adult hippos typically weigh between 1,000 and 1,500 kg (2,200 to 3,300 lb), with large males occasionally exceeding that, making them one of the heaviest land animals after elephants and rhinos.
What is a group of hippopotamuses called?
A group of Hippopotamuses is called a bloat. It is also known as a pod.
What is a baby hippopotamus called?
A baby Hippopotamus is called a calf.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Hippopotamus:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Vulnerable) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Hippopotamus amphibius.
- Lewison, R. & Pluháček, J. (2017). Hippopotamus amphibius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Status (Vulnerable) and threats.
- Eltringham, S. K. (1999). The Hippos: Natural History and Conservation. Academic Press.
Definitive natural-history reference.
- Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
Morphology and biology.
- Animal Diversity Web — Hippopotamus amphibius. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Behaviour and range.
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