Hippopotamus amphibius A land animal adapted for an amphibious life, this bulky animal wallows by day and grazes on land by night. They have wide snouts and thick lips for grazing terrestrial grasses. Hippos vary from brown to grayish purple, with pink underparts and skin creases.
Hippos are virtually hairless, with bristles only on their noses, ears, and tails.
Nile hippopotamuses grow up to 15 feet long. Males are heavier than females, weighing up to 8,000 pounds. Nile hippos stand from four and a half to five and a half feet tall. Nile hippos live only in sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit rivers, lakes, and wetlands from western African countries like Guinea east to Ethiopia and south to northeastern South Africa.