Among hippopotamuses, the males are considerably larger than the females. Male hippos have an average weight of around 1500 kg, while females are usually around 1300 kilos. The largest hippos, however, can be significantly bigger. The largest known hippos have weighed about double that.
The large weight is primarily due to the hippopotamus being very thick. In terms of height, it is similar to several other animal species that weigh much less. As can be seen in the picture above, a typical male hippo is about 160 cm tall at the shoulder blades. Michelle in the picture is 174 cm.
The length of a hippopotamus can also vary quite a bit, but a male hippo will usually be just over four meters long. Females are usually just under 4 meters.
The most characteristic feature of a hippopotamus is not its physical size, but rather its mouth. A hippopotamus has a very large mouth, which it can open almost 180 degrees, and at the same time it has some very large teeth, which grind against each other when it bites down. The teeth in the lower jaw can grow up to 50 cm long. In addition to the mouth being large, the hippopotamus also has a very powerful bite, which together with the sharp teeth gives a deadly bite.
In terms of age, hippos probably live on average around 40-50 years. Since hippos are difficult to get close to in the wild, there is some uncertainty about this number. There is some knowledge about how long they live in captivity, but it is difficult to assess whether this is different for wild hippos.
The hippopotamus spends most of the day in water, which they primarily do to cool down their bodies, but it also has the added benefit of easing the strain on their legs from the enormous body.
The hippopotamus has eyes and ears raised above the skull like crocodiles and some other aquatic animals. This enables them to both see and hear while staying under water. The hippopotamus cannot swim, but it can move relatively quickly along the bottom, and it is also able to sleep in the water.
In the evening, hippos usually come ashore to eat. Although hippos have a mouth that can kill even large animals with a single bite, it is exclusively a herbivore, and it will typically spend several hours each evening or night grazing.
Adult hippos have only humans as enemies, as with their large mouths and teeth they are able to defend themselves against the largest predators. Lions in packs can take down a hippopotamus, but a single bite from the hippo would be deadly for a lion, so it happens very rarely.
The calves, on the other hand, can be attacked by both crocodiles, lions, and leopards.
Although the hippopotamus is not a predator, it is very dangerous to both humans and other animals. This is due to a combination of its powerful bite and aggressive behavior. On land, the hippopotamus is relatively fast over a short distance, and under water it is still fast, but here it can maintain its speed longer, which makes it dangerous if, for example, it has become angry at smaller boats.
The hippopotamus is classified as a vulnerable species, and from having lived all over Africa, there is now only a population of about 130,000 hippos, which live in protected areas. As is the case with other large animals such as elephants and rhinos, it is poaching that is slowly wiping out the hippos.
Again, it is primarily Asian countries that pay these poachers, as they use the hippopotamus’ teeth for their medicine. Especially after trade in elephant ivory was banned, poachers and buyers have increasingly turned their focus to the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus.
WWF is the organization that does the most for the conservation of the hippopotamus. Below we have provided a couple of links to them and TRACE.
