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.
Nile hippopotamuses remain common in many parks throughout their range.
However, outside of parks, populations have declined. Nile hippopotamuses graze in short grasslands by night and wallow in lakes, rivers, and wetlands by day. Hippos' habit of resting in water during the day reduces energy and food demands. Female Nile hippopotamuses start breeding at seven to nine years of age, and usually have a single calf every two years. Their gestation period is eight months.