The Kinds of Hippos

The family Hippopotamidae has only two living species. Both species are large mammals that spend a lot of time in or near water sources. Hippos are members of the Artiodactyla order of animals which also include deer, camels and pigs. Members of this order have feet in which the third and fourth digits tend to bear most of the body weight.

  1. Description

    • The hippopotamus is the largest of the two hippo species. It grows to 14 feet in length and weighs up to 8,000 lbs. The other hippo species is the pygmy hippo which grows to almost 6 feet in length and weighs up to 605 lbs. Both are large, broad animals with short and thick legs, huge heads and big mouths. The large mouths of both species have over-sized canine teeth which in the adult hippopotamus can be more like tusks. Both species are hairless and can range from dark brown to pinkish in color.

    Range and Habitat

    • The hippopotamus is the more widespread of the two species and lives most of its life in the water. It lives in the rivers and wetland areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The largest populations are found in the Nile Valley. The endangered pygmy hippo is found in a small range of western Africa, mainly in Liberia and a few surrounding countries. The pygmy hippo is more terrestrial than its larger cousin and can be found roaming forests. They still spend a large amount of time in rivers and streams.

    Diet

    • The hippopotamus is almost completely vegetarian, spending much of its day grazing on grasses on the river bank or aquatic plants. The animal will also travel inland during the night to find food. It will sometimes also eat small animals or scavenges from dead carcasses that may float into its river home range. The pygmy hippo is entirely vegetarian, eating much the same plant diet as its larger cousin as well as some forest plants further from the river banks.

    Life Cycle

    • The hippopotamus lives in large groups of up to 40 individuals. The species can breed year round, but females usually only give birth once every two years. A resident dominant male will tend to breed with all the females in a group, sometimes fighting off other males. After a gestation of 227 to 240 days, the hippo gives birth to one offspring. The pygmy hippo is a solitary animal, only coming together to breed. Its gestation period is shorter at between 184 to 210 days also giving birth to a single live offspring. Both species live, on average, around 40 years.