Interesting Facts on Hippos

Hippopotamus amphibius, or the "hippo" as it is more commonly known, is a large African mammal. Approximately the same size as white rhinos, hippos are among the continent's largest animals. They are also one of the loudest animals in Africa, producing vocalizations that measure up to 115 decibels, similar levels to standing a few feet from the speakers at a rock concert, according the the San Diego Zoo's website.

  1. Description

    • Hippos grow to between 10 and 16 feet in length, over 5 feet at the shoulder and weigh 3,000 to 9,920 lbs., says The San Diego Zoo. After the African elephant, hippos are the second-heaviest land mammal. The hippo is a large-bodied animal with relatively short legs and a huge mouth. The hippo's skin is a slate to dark brown color and is very sensitive to intense sunlight, so it needs to remain moist. If not submerged in water, the hippo can secrete a thick red substance from its sweat glands. This is called "blood sweat" but is actually a mucus-like substance.

    Habitat and Range

    • At one time, hippos were found throughout all the main waterways of sub-Saharan Africa. Hunting and habitat loss have limited the largest populations to the Nile valley region. A large portion of the hippo's day is spent in the water keeping cool. Hippos can dive beneath the water and, if need be, can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes. On land, hippos are somewhat cumbersome but can sprint at up to 14 miles per hour over short distances, reports the San Diego Zoo. Despite being so aquatic, hippos cannot actually swim or float; instead, they walk along the river bed.

    Diet

    • Hippos are mainly vegetarian, feeding at night on the grasses found along the riverbank. They sometimes eat small animals or feed on the carcasses of dead animals along the riverbanks. A hippo can actually store two days' worth of food in its stomach and can survive three weeks without food. Despite being so large, the hippo tends to eat only around 88 lbs. of food per day, according to the San Diego Zoo; its mainly sedentary lifestyle means it needs less energy. The hippo sometimes uses its acute hearing to hear the sounds of falling fruit from nearby trees.

    Life Cycle

    • Hippos tend to wait for the wet season to mate when rivers are at their deepest. They prefer to breed in the water, although they can breed on dry land as well. The animal has a relatively short gestation period, generally around eight months. Naturally a herd animal, females separate from the herd one to two weeks before giving birth. Birth can occur in or out of the water. In water births, the mother has to push the baby to the surface so it can breathe. A hippo is a devoted mother and won't lead her calf out of the water until it is strong enough to walk on land.