Hippo Facts for Kids

25 Hippo Facts For Kids

1. The hippopotamus is a large semi-aquatic mammal that is in the Hippopotamidae family.
2. Hippos can be identified by their short mast-like legs, barrel shaped bodies, and huge mouth with large canine tusks.
3. The binomial name for a hippopotamus is Hippopotamus amphibius.
4. Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus first scientifically described the hippo in 1758.
5. Paleontologist believe the evolution to the modern day hippo started 50 to 55 million years ago.
6. The habitat range for the hippopotamus is small regions throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
7. The preferred habitat for a hippo is mangrove swamps, lakes, and rivers in the sub-Saharan Africa.
8. There are only between 115,000 and 130,000 hippos left in the wild.
9. The hippopotamus is an herbivore and in the wild its diet consists mostly of grass.
10. Hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in the world because of their unpredictable and aggressive behavior.
11. A male hippo is called a bull, a female hippo is called a cow, and a juvenile hippo is called a calf.
12. The hippopotamus is the third largest living land mammal in the world, only surpassed by rhinos and elephants.
13. The average weight for an adult male hippopotamus is 3,260 pounds.
14. The average weight for an adult female hippopotamus is 3,010 pounds.
15. The average length for an adult hippopotamus is between 9.5 and 16.6 feet.
16. The average tail length for an adult hippopotamus is between 1.15 and 1.84 feet.
17. The average skin thickness for an adult hippopotamus is 2 inches.
18. The average running speed for an adult hippopotamus is 19 miles per hour.
19. The average swimming speed for an adult hippopotamus is around 5 miles per hour.
20. An adult hippopotamus can hold its breath for up to five minutes while submerged in water.
21. The average lifespan for a hippopotamus is between 40 and 50 years.
22. The longest recorded lifespan for a hippopotamus was earned by Donna the Hippo at 61 years.
23. Hippos are one of the most popular zoo animals and are a common exhibit in zoos around the world.
24. The hippopotamus is classified as a vulnerable species to extinction by the IUCN.
25. There are two reasons why hippos are a threatened species, poaching and habitat loss.

Hippo Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on hippos. Below are three pictures of various hippos. These pictures should help you better understand what hippos look like.

A picture of two hippos in the water.

A picture of a mother and baby hippo.

A picture of a hippo with its mouth open.