Hippopotamus

Hello! My name is Hippopotamus. That’s a big name that means “river horse,” and I love being a river horse. I spend my days with my family in the cool rivers and lakes of my home in Africa. Splish, sploosh. We love to play and splash all day long. The sun can get very hot, so the water feels so nice on my skin and keeps me from getting too warm. Floating with just my ears wiggling above the water is my favorite thing to do.

When the sun is bright and high in the sky, I stay almost all the way underwater. I sink my big body down, down, down until just my eyes, my ears, and my nose peek out above the water. This way, I can see and hear everything while I stay nice and cool. Then, when the moon comes out, it’s time for my dinner. I walk out of the river and onto the land to eat my favorite meal: lots and lots of yummy grass. Sometimes I open my mouth really wide. It looks like a big yawn, but it’s my way of showing everyone how strong I am.

I am a big helper in my home. When I splash around and walk on the land, my big feet make little paths and small pools of water for other animals. These little spots are perfect for smaller animals to live and play in. I am a very important part of the river and grassland. I love being a big, strong river horse and helping all my friends.