Hippopotamus

Hello! I'm a hippopotamus. My name means 'river horse' in a language called Greek. But here’s a funny secret: my closest living relatives aren't horses at all. They are whales and dolphins. Isn't that silly? I live in the big rivers and lakes of Africa. It gets very hot here, so I spend most of my day in the cool water. My huge body loves a good soak. People have known about animals like me for a very long time. In fact, scientists gave us our official name, Hippopotamus amphibius, way back in the year 1758.

I have some amazing tricks for living in the water. I can hold my breath for up to five whole minutes. This lets me take long walks right on the bottom of the riverbed. My skin is special, too. It makes its own reddish, oily liquid that works just like sunscreen to protect me from the bright African sun. When the sun goes down and everything gets cooler, I get hungry. At night, I leave the water to find my dinner. I am primarily an herbivore, but occasionally consume meat. My favorite food is grass. I can walk for miles and miles every single night just to find the greenest, tastiest patches of grass to munch on.

I don't live by myself. I live with my big family in a group called a pod. We are very social animals and love to stay close together in the water, bobbing around like big, happy potatoes. We have our own way of talking to each other. We use loud honks, deep grunts, and rumbly bellows. You can hear us from very far away. Have you ever seen me give a giant yawn? It might look like I'm sleepy, but it's actually my way of saying, 'Look at my big, sharp teeth. Please give me some space.' It's a warning to other animals to stay back.

I have a very important job in my home. You could call me a gardener of the land and river. When I eat all that grass at night, I help keep it trimmed short and healthy, just like a lawnmower. And when I'm back in the river, while hippo feces can provide nutrients beneficial to some aquatic organisms, excessive amounts may deplete oxygen levels, harming fish and other aquatic life. This makes the water a much healthier home for everyone. In the year 2006, people who study animals said that my kind needs extra protection. It’s very important to keep the rivers and grasslands of Africa safe for us. By helping my habitat, I make sure my home stays a wonderful and lively place for all the other animals, too.