Zoobooks Hippos
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The hippopotamus is, without a doubt, one of the strangest-looking animals in the world. The ancient Greeks named this large, lumbering animal “hippopotamos,” which means “river horse.” But hippos are not related to horses.
Found only in Africa, hippos come in two species, or types. The small pygmy hippo lives in rain forests and swamps. And the gigantic common hippo lives mostly in grasslands around rivers and lakes. Both species have a long lifespan, often living over 30 years in the wild.
Only a few animals are bigger than the common hippo. African and Asian elephants and white rhinos are the only land mammals heavier than hippos. Hippos are adapted to an aquatic environment—they spend most of their time in the water, only moving onto land at night to graze. At night, their skin is protected from the sun and the dry air that can cause a serious loss of moisture resulting in dehydration.
Because of its bulk, the common hippo may appear awkward on land, but don’t let that fool you. It can move very fast—much faster than a human can run!