Hippopotamus amphibius

Length: 280-350 cm (9-11.5’)

Height: 130-165 cm (51-65")

Tail: 35-50 cm (14-20")

Weight: 510-2 500 kg (1,124-5,500 lb.) female, 650-3 200 kg (1,433-1,260 lb.) male

Status: common but declining in many parts of their range

Habitat: Hippos require an environment that offers them land to graze at night and permanent water to rest in during the day. Large groups prefer water locations to have firm, gently sloping beaches and quiet waters. They must also have access to the grassland from their daytime resting places. Hippos are found in most rivers of the Serengeti-Mara provided the water meets their needs. Their constant moving about in rivers helps prevent the rivers from becoming clogged with vegetation.

Role: herbivore

Food: Hippos are nighttime grazers. They favor the following species of grass: Cynodon, Panicum, Brachiara, Themeda, Chloris and Setaria. They eat both creeping and tussock grass types. In one night, a hippo will eat between 40 and 60 kilograms (88-132 lb.)of grass.

Predators: Lions and spotted hyenas will both take hippos on land. Crocodiles are a threat in the water.