Hippopotamus

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"Hippo" redirects here. For other uses, see Hippo (disambiguation).
This article is about the species Hippopotamus amphibius. For its genus, see Hippopotamus
(genus). For other uses, see Hippopotamus (disambiguation).

Common hippopotamus

A hippopotamus in Chobe National

Park, Botswana

Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Hippopotamidae

Genus: Hippopotamus
 Species: H. amphibius

Binomial name

Hippopotamus amphibius

Linnaeus, 1758[2]

Range map of the African hippopotamus.

Historic range is in red while current range is

in green.[1]

The common hippopotamus (/ˌhɪpəˈpɒtəməs/ HIP-ə-POT-ə-məs;[3] Hippopotamus amphibius),

or hippo, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammal and ungulate native to sub-Saharan
Africa. It is one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae, the other being the pygmy
hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis). The name comes from
the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος). After the elephant and rhinoceros, the common
hippopotamus is the third-largest type of land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl. Despite
their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living
relatives of the Hippopotamidae are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises, etc.) from which they
diverged about 55 million years ago.
Common hippos are recognisable by their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths revealing
large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, columnar legs and large size; adults average 1,500 kg
(3,310 lb) and 1,300 kg (2,870 lb) for males and females respectively. Despite its stocky shape and
short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances.
The common hippo inhabits rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over
a stretch of river and groups of five to thirty females and young. During the day, they remain cool by
staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. They emerge at dusk to
graze on grasses. While hippos rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and
hippos are not territorial on land. The hippo is among the most dangerous animals in the world as it
is highly aggressive and unpredictable. They are threatened by habitat loss and poaching for their
meat and ivory canine teeth.