Hippos: The Mighty Giants of Africa’s Rivers
The hippopotamus , or hippo , is one of the largest and most powerful land mammals in the world. Despite their round, comical appearance, hippos are known for their strength, territorial behavior , and surprising agility in water. Native to sub-Saharan Africa , hippos spend most of their time submerged in rivers and lakes, emerging at night to graze on land. Their name comes from the Greek words hippos (horse) and potamos (river), meaning “ river horse .” Physical Features and Size Hippos are th