The tail is short and flat and is fringed at the end with thick, stiff bristles. Mature males are larger than females, and have much thicker necks with heavier skin folds, and larger tusks. The hippo is found in western, central, eastern and southern parts of Africa. They are extinct in northern and southern parts of original range. Hippos are found mainly in large populations on preserves.
Hippos spend most of their days in the water and mud, coming out at night to feed.
Baby hippos swim the moment they are born, because they are born in water. Hippos live in schools up to 30, containing females and their offspring, young males and one single dominant male that defends the school. It is not, however, strictly nocturnal. Hipos may cover up to 33km of water each night searching for food. They eat mainly the grasses along the shores of the rivers they inhabit, but they have been keen on grazing up to 3.2km from the shoreline.