Weight

1,899-3,600 kilograms.

Length

4-4.5 metres (13-15 feet).

Height

The hippo stands 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall at the shoulders.

Life Span

Up to 50 years.

Head

The head and skull are massive and heavy, and acts as a counter-balance to the rest of the body. The eyes, ears and nose are high on the head allowing the animal to still hear, see, and breathe while being almost submerged. They are able to open their mouths very widely and, as the mouth is half a metre (2 feet) wide, the result is spectacular. Hippos make a variety of grunts, screams and growls underwater to communicate.

Teeth

The incisors and canines grow continuously throughout life, like those of rodents and rabbits. These teeth form tusks which can be used when finding others of the same species. The pre-molars and molars are large and well-adapted to grinding vegetation. The gap between the front and the back teeth provides a space in which the hippopotamous can manoeuvre its bulky food. A bull hippo┐s canine teeth can grow to 70 centimetres long.

Body

The hippo┐s body is brownish-grey on top and paler on the underside, with pink areas of colour around the face. The large body and short legs are adapted to life in the water with the water supporting the bulk of the body. If the hippopotamous sinks in the mud it can still glide along on its belly. The skin of the hippopotamus is thick and almost hairless. Oily red drops ooze from its pores which once lead people to think it was sweating blood. This oily substance helps to keep the skin moist, protecting it from the sun and water, and possibly killing germs and healing wounds.

Front Limb

The front limb has four well-developed digits with hoof-like nails. The digits all touch the ground and spread out to bear the weight of the animal. The ┐elbow┐ joint is hidden by the bulk of the body. The visible joint in the leg is the ┐wrist┐.

Hind Limb

The hind limb is similar to the front limb in having four hoofed digits, but it is stronger. It acts as the propulsive force, both on land and in the water. The bones of the digits are separate and not fused as in the more advanced or specialised members of the Order.