The name hippopotamus derives from ancient Greek word that means the ‘river horse’. Hippos bask on the shoreline and can secrete oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood.
They are only territorial while in the water. Both reproduction and birth occurs in the water. The hippos calves can weigh 45kg at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils. Each female has only one calf every 2 years. Soon after birth the mother and the calf joins the school that offers protection against crocodiles, lions and hyenas.
Hippos spend 4 to 5 hours grazing and can consume 68kg of grass each night and despite its stocky shape and short legs, it can outrun most humans. It can clock 30km/h over short distances.
Hippopotamus can live up to 40 years and it is semi aquatic. It can weigh around 2,268kg to 3,629kg.
