SPECIES
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
A hippopotamus spends hot days in rivers and lakes before grazing on land at night.
Much of a hippopotamus is hidden beneath the surface. By night, this great mammal leaves the water to feed on land.
What does a hippopotamus eat?
soft grasses
Where does a hippopotamus live?
sub-Saharan Africa
A day in water, a night on land
Eyes and ears set high on the head allow hippos to watch their surroundings while most of the body stays in water.
The river and the shore
Hippopotamuses live in rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa and forage on nearby land.
A threatened river home
Habitat loss and damage to waterways place pressure on hippopotamus populations.
Sources
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.