Hippopotamus means river horse in the Greek language!

Did you know that Hippopotamus means river horse in the Greek language?  The Greeks choose this name since these enormous animals can spend 16 hours a day in lakes, rivers, or swamps.

A group of playful hippopotamuses in the river

Some more interesting Hippopotamus trivia facts:

• Hippopotamuses can weigh up to 4 tons and feed mainly on grass, fallen fruit, and sugar cane. 

• They are the 3rd largest land mammal after the elephant and white rhinoceros.

• If threatened, hippopotamuses can easily outrun a human at 19 miles per hour, in spite of their chubby appearance.  

• Hippopotamuses produces loud noises that can be heard for several miles and sounds like roaring lions!

• The Swahili name for a hippopotamus is Kiboko.

• The gestation period for a female hippopotamus is 240 days.

• Hippopotamus amphibius is the scientific name for the Hippopotamus.

• They are thought as one of the most deadliest animals in Africa, since approximately 3,000 people are killed annually on the continent.

• Hippopotamuses can live from 40-50 years.

• The hippopotamus was considered a representation of pregnancy in ancient Egypt.

• Two hippo species are found in Africa, the large hippo and the pygmy hippo.

• Hippopotamuses are not very susceptible to disease, therefore, their numbers can quickly multiply.

• Hippopotamuses like to graze on grass at night for several hours and can venture across the land for miles.

• While submerged in water, hippopotamuses can hear, see, and breathe since their ears, eyes, and nose are located at the top of their heads. 

• Not good swimmers, hippopotamuses usually walk or run on the bottom of the river bed.

• Hippopotamuses secrete a red, oily substance that acts as a skin moisturizer and sunblock.

• The African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a severe decline in the hippopotamus population.

• The hippopotamus can bring down its temperature by resting in water

• A male hippopotamus is known as a bull; a female is a cow, and the baby is a calf.  

• Hippo calves weight approximately 45 kilograms at birth.

• A hippopotamus consumers about 80 pounds or 36 kilograms of grass each night.

• The long ivory teeth of a hippopotamus never stop growing, in fact, they can grow up to 20 inches, or 51 centimeters.

• Hippopotamuses can open their mouths very wide, 150 degrees to be exact!

• Hippopotamuses are related to the whale and dolphin and like to be in large groups.