Where does the hippopotamus live?
The hippopotamus lives in sub-Saharan Africa. This semi-aquatic mammal inhabits rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps. It mostly lives in fresh water, but it can also be found in estuaries. It prefers still waters with gently sloping shores. It is recognisable by its barrel-shaped chest, its mouth that opens very wide on large canines, its hairless body and its column-like legs.
What does the hippopotamus eat?
During the day, the hippo stays cool in water or mud. Just before night, it leaves the water to graze. It travels 3 to 5 km a night and eats around 40 kg of grass. In the wild, its diet is almost entirely grass, with very few aquatic plants. Despite looking like a pig, its closest living relatives are the cetaceans, such as whales: they split about 55 million years ago.
Is the hippopotamus endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable. After elephants and rhinoceroses, it is the largest land mammal. Adults weigh on average 1,500 kg for males and 1,300 kg for females.
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