Hippopotamus amphibus (hippopotamus)

Introduction

Range: west, central, south & east Africa

Habitat:

• short grasslands (night)
• wallows, rivers, lakes (day)

Diet: grasses, vegetation

Size:

• length: 3.3-3.4 meters (11 feet)
• height: 1.4 meters (4.6 feet)
• weight:
  • male: 1600-3200 kg (3500-7000 lbs)
  • female: 1400 kg (3000 lbs)

Skin:

• upper part of body: gray-brown to blue-black
• lower part of body: pinkish
• albinos are bright pink

Gestation: 240 days

Longevity: 45 years (49 years recorded in captivity)

* One of the few enemies of mature crocodiles.

More general terms

• Hippopotamus