Hippopotamus: The River Horse!

Hippos are super big animals that spend most of their time in rivers and lakes. They look a bit like a giant pig with short legs! Their scientific name is Hippopotamus amphibius, which means 'river horse'.

They can weigh as much as a small car, and their skin is super thick, like a tough leather jacket, to protect them from the sun. They have huge mouths that can open super wide, but don't worry, they mostly use them for yawning!

These amazing creatures call Africa their home! You can find them splashing around in rivers, lakes, and swamps in many countries across the continent. They love to be in the water to keep cool because their thick skin can get sunburned easily. At night, they come out of the water to munch on grass. Imagine a giant lawnmower eating grass all night long!

Even though hippos look like they could eat anything, they are actually herbivores! This means they only eat plants. Their favorite food is grass, and they can eat a LOT of it! They spend hours each night grazing on land, chomping down on about 80 pounds of grass. That's like eating 80 big pizzas! They don't eat fish or other animals.

Baby hippos are called calves, and they are born underwater! Mommies help them swim to the surface to take their first breath. A baby hippo can already weigh as much as a big dog! Hippos are surprisingly fast on land, even though they look so slow and clumsy in the water. They can run faster than a human can sprint! They also have a special pinkish 'sweat' that acts like sunscreen and antibiotic.