Advertisement.

EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.




ad
(Already a member? Click here.)


Go to a Hippo Quiz
All about Mammals
EnchantedLearning.com
Hippopotamus

Animal Printouts
Label Me! Printouts

Click on a region in the picture to color it in with the selected color.
Click on a color swatch in the palette to select a new color.
The currently selected color in the palette is indicated by a black rectangle drawn around it.
When you click, the point that you're clicking on is at the tip of the arrow or the tip of the pointing finger.


The Hippopotamus is a large mammal from swampy areas, lakes, and rivers in sub-Saharan Africa (south of the Sahara desert). It is semi-aquatic, spending much of its time in the water. Hippopotamus means "river horse" in Greek. The genus and species of the hippo are Hippopotamus amphibius. Hippos are closely related to whales and other cetaceans.

Diet and Behavior: Hippos are herbivores (plant-eaters). They are nocturnal (they are most active at night). Hippos spend the day resting and cooling off in shallow water, emerging from the water at night to graze on grass.

Hippos cans stay underwater for up to 5 to 6 minutes. Bulls (adult males) often roar; they also fight each other, using their enormous canine teeth as weapons. Females (called cows) give birth in the water. Baby hippos are called calves. Hippos have a life span of 40 years.

Anatomy: The Hippopotamus is about 4.5 feet (1.4 m) high at the shoulder and about 13 feet (4 m). It has a short tail, small eyes, a huge mouth and canine teeth up that are to 28 inches (72 cm) long. The enormous mouth can open 4 feet (1.2 m) wide. The legs are short and thick and the body is barrel-shaped. Despite its stubby shape, this aggressive animal is a very fast runner (faster than a human). Hippos weigh up to 10,000 pounds (4500 kg); they are the third-heaviest land animal (after the elephant and the white rhino). Baby hippos weigh 60-110 pounds (28-50 kg) at birth. Hippos have unusual pores on their almost-hairless body which exude a thick, oily, pink sweat.

Hippo populations are in decline because of hunting.







Enchanted Learning Search

Search the Enchanted Learning website for:



Advertisement.


Advertisement.




Copyright ©1999-2018 EnchantedLearning.com ------ How to cite a web page