ORDER
HIPPOPOTAMUS
EVEN TOED
UNGULATES
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Hippopotamidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Hippopotamus amphibius
HABITAT
SAVANNAH
WATER
HABITAT
DIET
HERBIVORE
STATUS
3
VUNERABLE
FACTS & FIGURES
Total body length
Total height
Weight
Pregnancy
Number of young born
Life span
MALE
3 – 3.5m
1.5m
1,500 – 3,200kg
45 – 50 years
FEMALE
3 – 3.5m
1.5m
Up to 1,500kg
8 months
1
45 – 50 years
DESCRIPTION
Fossil records show that there were once
several species of hippo. We now have only
two; the pygmy hippo which lives in the
forest and the larger version which lives in
the grasslands beside lakes and rivers. The
body of the hippo is barrel shaped with
short, fat legs. The large head has eyes, ears
and nostrils positioned on top adapted to
its aquatic lifestyle. The skin is thick and
smooth with a very high rate of water loss
when the animal is in the air. To prevent
dehydration the hippo spends up to 18
hours in the water. A thick fluid exudes
from glands in the skin causing the hippo’s
skin to look pink. The red colour is due to
skin pigments similar to those that cause
tanning in humans. This fluid dries in a
stiff covering that protects the skin from
sunburn. It is also thought to disinfect
open wounds. Hippos have two very large,
sharp lower canine teeth – up to 50cm long
with a combined weight of 2.1kg.
Male Hippos fight
to defend mating
territories
POINTS OF INTEREST
The night paths, to the grazing lawns, are
marked by piles of dung. Hippo spread
their dung by shaking their flattened tails
as they defecate. They sometimes occupy
mud-wallows which enlarge their grazing
areas. High density of hippos in certain
areas lead to overgrazing and erosion. This
sometimes leads to culling.
NATURAL DIET
Hippos feed in the hours from sunset to
dawn. Each animal leaves the water
separately, except for mothers and calves,
and make their way along well worn paths
to the feeding ground which may be up to
3km away. There it eats the grass using its
lips. The hippo will eat about 40kg a night
which is very little for its bulk. This is
because the animal uses so little energy
submerged in the water during the day.
LONGLEAT DIET
Summer – Grazing in the lakeside pasture
and feeding on the weed found in the lake.
Winter – Hay and high fibre cubes.
Bananas when they are available.
COMMUNICATION & LIFESTYLE
© Longleat
Hippo make a series of sharp grunts. They
open their jaws wide to display their
ferocious teeth as a threat display.
Hippo live in groups of 15–20 animals
although there may be many more. The
main part of the group is comprised of
females and young. A female may have
several young with her with the youngest
always the nearest to her and the eldest at
the end of the line. Young males stay in
small bachelor groups on the edge of the
main group.
WORLD
DISTRIBUTION
HIPPOPOTAMUS – Hippo are found in
the south, east and west of Africa. The
highest concentration is in the Rift Valley.
The Hippopotamus takes its name from the Greek for River Horse
CONSERVATION
© Longleat
DID YOU KNOW?
A hippo can stay underwater for
up to five minutes.
They have webbed feet which
help them to walk along the
bottom of the river bed.
The hippo is the most dangerous
animal in Africa.
Hippo have been known to come
up under small boats, driving
their teeth through the boat.
Hippo’s jaws can open to 150°
wide.
The saying “sweating blood”
comes from the pink liquid
secreted as a sun screen.
Up to 45% of hippo die in their
first year.
Hippo are not in danger of extinction at the
moment. However overgrazing in certain
areas has led to hippo culling in order to
preserve the habitat.
The Hippo’s closest relative, the rare
Pygmy Hippo is vulnerable to extinction
because its natural home is being
destroyed as trees in the African Rainforest
are cut down for commercial use.