Hippo Facts for Kids

Hippos are one of the largest mammals on land.

Hippos spend most of their time in the water.

Despite their size, hippos are excellent swimmers.

Hippos have a thick grey skin that protects them from the sun.

Hippos have short legs, making them good runners on land.

Hippos have huge jaws with sharp teeth.

Hippos typically eat grass and plants.

Hippos can eat up to 150 pounds of food per day!

Hippos have a special adaptation that allows them to close their noses and ears underwater.

Hippos live in groups called pods.

Each pod is led by a dominant male hippo.

Hippos are very social animals and communicate with each other through vocalizations.

Baby hippos are called calves and they can weigh up to 100 pounds at birth!

Calves stay close to their mothers for the first few years of their lives.

Hippos are herbivores, which means they only eat plants.

Despite their size, hippos are surprisingly fast, reaching speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.

Hippos are not easy to tame or domesticate.

Hippos are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night.

Hippos have a lifespan of around 40-50 years.

Hippos have a surprisingly agile and flexible body, despite their bulky appearance.

Hippos have excellent hearing and can detect even the slightest sounds.

Hippos have long been associated with the Nile River in Africa.

The name hippopotamus comes from the ancient Greek words for river and horse.

Hippo Facts for Kids part 2

Hippos have large, protruding tusks made of ivory.

Hippos can weigh up to 3,000 pounds!

Despite their large size, hippos can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes.

Hippos are known for their aggressive behavior and can be very territorial.

Hippos mark their territory by spraying their urine and feces with their tails.

Hippos are not natural swimmers, but instead walk or bounce along the riverbed.

Hippos have thick, oily skin that helps to keep them cool and hydrated.

Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Hippos have a unique relationship with birds called oxpeckers, who help to clean parasites off their skin.

Hippos have large, muscular bodies that allow them to defend themselves against predators.

Hippos have a slow metabolism and can go weeks without eating.

Hippos have been featured in numerous African folktales and myths.

Hippos have a distinct call that sounds like a combination of a grunt and a honk.

Hippos are surprisingly agile in the water, being able to turn, twist, and change direction quickly.

Hippos are excellent mothers and will fiercely protect their young.

Hippos have been observed using their mouths to stick their heads out of the water, a behavior known as yawning.

Hippos have a large, barrel-shaped body that helps them with buoyancy in the water.

Hippos have a high tolerance for pain and can often continue to fight even when injured.

Hippos have a highly territorial nature and will often engage in aggressive displays to defend their territory.

Hippos have a symbiotic relationship with fish called cleaner fish, who eat parasites off their skin.

Hippos have a unique way of cooling off – they secrete a red liquid from their skin that acts as a natural sunscreen and bug repellent.

Hippos have been admired and feared by humans for centuries, and have been depicted in ancient Egyptian art and mythology.