- Hippos rest in the water during the day and go out at night to feed in the grasslands.
- Hippos can eat about 40 kg of grass in one night and transport large amount of nutrients from savannah grasslands to aquatic ecosystems.
- On land, it can speed up to 30 km/h over short distances.
- Hippos are a very social species, living in groups.
- Hippos tend to be polygynous: One male lives with several females in a social group.
- In captivity, sexual maturity is attained at 3-4 years.
- The average gestation period is about 8 months.
- Calves have a weight of over 20 kg at birth.
- Females nurse their calves until they are up to 2 years old.
- It is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
It can grow to over 4 m in length and 1.5 m in height. Adults can grow to over 3000 kg. In the wild, females usually start mating when they are 7-13 years old. It can stay under water for about 5 minutes.
On land, it can speed up to 30 km/h over short distances. Hippos can eat about 40 kg of grass in one night and transport large amount of nutrients from savannah grasslands to aquatic ecosystems. Hippos rest in the water during the day and go out at night to feed in the grasslands.
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