Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) lives in freshwater across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on grass and leaves. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Hippopotamus
- A typical bull hippo weighs as much as a small car, averaging 1.5 t (1.7 short tons) while a cow averages 1.3 t (1.4 short tons). Yet the biggest recorded male tipped the scales at 2.66 t (2.93 short tons), showing that hippos keep growing throughout life. Their bodies stretch 2.90-5.05 m long, stand 1.30-1.65 m tall at the shoulder, and can reach a jaw gape of 100-110 degrees.
- Hippos share a surprisingly close family tree with whales. Molecular studies show their nearest living relatives are cetaceans, and they split from a common ancestor about 55 million years ago. The latest evolutionary model places the hippo-whale split shortly after a broader artiodactyl divergence around 60 million years ago, with the two lineages separating again roughly 54 million years ago. This deep-sea connection explains why hippos have a horizontally positioned vocal fold and can produce powerful underwater calls, traits similar to those of their aquatic cousins.
- Hippo skin pours out a red-orange "sunscreen" that starts clear and darkens within minutes. Two acids, hipposudoric and norhipposudoric, give the fluid its colour and block ultraviolet rays, while also killing disease-causing bacteria. Because the secretion is produced by every hippo regardless of diet, it likely comes from amino-acid precursors like tyrosine rather than food.
- Hippos can shout louder than a thunderclap. Their underwater honk reaches up to 115 decibels, the same intensity as a storm, and a lead male's call can rally a chorus that travels 1.6 km through the water. Sound is made in the larynx, amplified by a fatty layer that vibrates the jaw and skull, allowing the noise to spread both above and below the surface. This unique amphibious communication lets whole pods coordinate movements and warn each other of danger without ever leaving the water.
- Hippo numbers have plummeted from historic highs. The IUCN lists a stable global count of 115,000-130,000 animals in 2017, but in Virunga National Park the herd fell to just 800-900 by 2005 after a mid-1970s peak of around 29,000, a drop driven by war and poaching. Recent ranger efforts have helped the park's hippos rebound, yet the species remains vulnerable, with habitat loss and illegal hunting still threatening the remaining 125,000-148,000 individuals across Africa.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatFreshwater
DietGrass and leaves
About the Hippopotamus
In the murky depths of Africa's rivers and lakes, the hippopotamus reigns as a behemoth of unyielding power, its stout body gliding effortlessly through the water with a deceptive serenity. As it emerges onto the sun-baked banks, its clumsy gait belies a deep-seated strength, its short legs moving with a deliberate purpose that commands respect from all who cross its path. With its eyes and nostrils perched atop its head like sentinels, the hippopotamus surveys its domain with a quiet vigilance, a true marvel of evolution that has endured for millennia.
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Hippopotamus photographed on Feravox
