Hippopotamuses), often shortened to hippo (pl. Learn all about where hippos live, what they eat, how they have adapted and more here at national geographic kids Hippopotamus, (hippopotamus amphibius), amphibious african ungulate mammal
Often considered to be the second largest land animal (after the elephant), the hippopotamus is comparable in size and weight to the white rhinoceros (ceratotherium simum) and the indian rhinoceros (rhinoceros unicornis). Learn more about the hippo’s habitat, diet, strength, threats, and other interesting facts. Their name comes from the greek word for “river horse” because they're often found in water, which helps them stay cool in the hot,.
A pod can include anywhere from 10 to 30 hippos, but in some areas with large hippo populations, these groups can swell to over 100 individuals during mating season. Hippos are the second biggest animal on land They eat 50kg of grass every evening and excrete millions of tonnes of poo into africa’s rivers every year. It is the most rotund land mammal and spends its daytime hours in lakes, pools, mudholes, or in the preferred moving waters of rivers.
Find out more about hippos in our expert guide, including species facts and where to see in the wild. There are two species of hippos — the large/common hippo and the smaller relative, the pygmy hippo The hippopotamus is the second largest mammal on earth
