The hippopotamus is a very large African animal. It has a blue-grey body with a pink underbelly, a large head, stumpy legs, and can weigh over 3 tonne! The males can weigh between 1600-3200 kgs (3600 - 7000 pounds), and the females between 650 - 2300 kgs (1400 - 5200 pounds).

Hippos like to wallow about in the water, due to the fact their skin is quite thin - and if they are not submerged in water they are vulnerable to dehydration.

Amazing Fact: Hippos can eat up to 40 kgs (88 pounds) of short grass in one day!

Although these are enormous animals, they usually walk up to 3-5 kms (2 or 3 miles) in a day.

Amazing Fact: Despite their size, hippos can gallop at speeds up to 30 km/h (18 mph).

Hippopotamus is spelt with an a, not an o, as the common mispelling is hippopotomus.

Further Information on the Hippopotamus:

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