Hippopotamus Facts for Kids – Fun Guide to Hippos, Habitat, Diet & Behavior

Discover fascinating hippopotamus facts for kids! Learn about hippos’ size, diet, habitat, behavior, and why they’re called “river horses.” Explore fun facts and quizzes.

Hippopotamus

Common Name: Hippopotamus (or “hippo”)
Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibius
Distinctive Feature: Large, barrel-shaped body with huge mouth and semi-aquatic lifestyle

Introduction

The hippopotamus, often called just “hippo,” is one of the largest land mammals on Earth—second only to the elephant in weight. The name hippopotamus comes from Greek and means “river horse,” which is fitting because hippos spend much of their lives in rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Despite their round, chubby look and mostly calm nature during the day, hippos are extremely strong, territorial, and fast—both in water and on land. They are famous for their giant mouths, huge teeth, and loud, honking grunts that echo across African wetlands.

Physical Description

Hippos are truly enormous animals. Adults can weigh between 1,400 to 4,500 kg (3,000 to 10,000 pounds)! Their bodies are shaped like barrels, with thick skin and short, stubby legs. Even though they look slow, hippos can run surprisingly fast—up to 30 km/h (19 mph) on land.

Key Features

Color: Grayish-brown skin with a pinkish tint around their eyes and ears
Skin: Very thick, almost hairless, and secretes a red, sticky substance sometimes called “blood sweat” (it’s not really blood) that protects their skin from the sun
Eyes, ears, and nostrils: Sit high on their heads so they can see and breathe while mostly underwater
Mouths: Can open over 150 degrees wide, with large tusk-like teeth used for defense
Tail: Short and used to flick dung for marking territory

Habitat and Distribution

Hippos live in sub-Saharan Africa, near rivers, lakes, and swamps where the water is shallow enough to stand and deep enough to submerge. They prefer slow-moving freshwater and are rarely far from water sources.

Habitat Facts

Semi-aquatic: Spend most of the day in water to stay cool
Terrestrial grazers: Come out at night to graze on land
Range: Found in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa

They create channels and paths in wetlands and help keep aquatic ecosystems healthy.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

Hippos are herbivores. Even though they have huge, scary teeth, they only eat plants, mostly grasses.

Feeding Behavior

Hippos graze at night, traveling several kilometers to feed
They use their wide mouths to pluck grass rather than chew
Eat around 40 kg (88 lbs) of grass each night
They do not eat while in water
Their digestion is slow, and they often rest for long periods to process food

Though they have giant canines, they don’t use them for chewing—those teeth are for fighting.

Reproduction and Lifecycle

Hippos mate and give birth in water. Mating can be rough, and only dominant males have the right to breed with females in their territory.

Lifecycle

Mating season: Usually during the dry season
Gestation: About 8 months
Birth: Usually one calf, born underwater
Calf size: 25–50 kg (55–110 lbs) at birth
Nursing: Calves nurse underwater or while resting on their mother’s back
Independence: Calves stay close to their mothers for several years

Females can give birth every 2–3 years. Hippos live up to 40–50 years in the wild and longer in captivity.

Behavior and Social Structure

Hippos are very social animals, usually living in groups called pods, bloats, or herds of 10 to 30 individuals.

Social Facts

Pods are led by dominant males
Males defend their territory with loud calls, yawning displays, and fights
Females and young form the core of the group, while bachelor males stay on the edges
Hippos are nocturnal grazers
They communicate through grunts, bellows, snorts, and underwater “songs”

Despite their funny waddling and sleepy daytime habits, hippos can be aggressive if they feel threatened.

Conservation Status

The hippopotamus is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Their population is decreasing due to:

Habitat loss (wetlands being drained or developed)
Conflict with humans (crop raiding or threatening fishermen)
Illegal hunting for meat and ivory-like teeth

Today, there are fewer than 130,000 hippos in the wild. Conservation efforts include protected reserves, anti-poaching laws, and education programs.

Cultural Significance

Hippos have fascinated humans for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Taweret was shown with the body of a pregnant hippo. Today, hippos appear in children’s books, cartoons, and games like Hungry Hungry Hippos.

They’re often seen as cute and clumsy—but in real life, hippos are powerful and dangerous, and are among the deadliest animals in Africa.

Vocabulary List

Word	Definition
Semi-aquatic	Living partly on land and partly in water.
Territorial	Protecting an area that an animal considers its own.
Herbivore	An animal that eats only plants.
Gestation	The period when a baby grows inside its mother before birth.
Dominant	The most powerful animal in a group.
Pod	A group of hippos living together.
Sub-Saharan	The region of Africa located south of the Sahara Desert.
Vulnerable	At risk of becoming endangered.
Graze	To feed on grass.
Ivory	Hard white material from the tusks and teeth of animals.

Interesting Facts

🦛 Hippos can’t swim! They move by bouncing off the bottom and walking underwater.
😲 A hippo’s mouth can open up to 4 feet wide!
💦 They can hold their breath for 5–7 minutes.
🔊 Hippos are the loudest land mammals.
🩸 Their skin secretes a natural sunscreen.
🚽 They flick poop with their tails to mark territory.