The hippopotamus, commonly referred to as a hippo, spends most of its time in the water. They live in rivers, lakes, and swamps and are the third-largest African animal, after the elephant and the rhinoceros.
They have an average lifespan of around 45 years. They are too heavy to swim, so they navigate underwater by walking on the bottom. They can hold their breath for five to six minutes at a time.
At night, hippos leave the water to graze. Even though they are so large, they only eat plants and can consume up to 45kg (99 pounds) of grass every night. Hippos are good runners. They can run at speeds of up to 30 km/h (18 mph) over short distances.
A male hippo can weigh half a ton. Hippos are highly aggressive, especially if they feel threatened. They may look cute, but they are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.