Adult cows have an average body weight of 1,350 kg and an average shoulder height of 144 cm. Adult bulls are larger with an average mass of 1,500 kg and an average shoulder height of 150 cm. The hippopotamus is one of the largest megaherbivores in the world.

Erzsebet Frey

Adult **cows** have an average body weight of **1,350 kg** and an
average shoulder height of 144 cm. Adult **bulls** are larger with an
average mass of **1,500 kg** and an average shoulder height of 150 cm.

The [hippopotamus](https://simplyecologist.com/what-does-the-hippo-eat/)
is one of the largest megaherbivores in the world. In order, others are
the

- African
  [elephant](https://simplyecologist.com/which-animal-kills-humans-the-most/),
  from 2 500 to 3 800 kg
- Hippopotamus, [white
  rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/) &
  Indian [rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/), 1
  400-2 000 kg
- [Black
  rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/difference-between-black-and-white-rhinoceros/),
  1 000-1 300 kg
- [Giraffe](https://simplyecologist.com/how-much-does-giraffe-weigh/) is
  800-1 200 kg
- Asiatic guar 940 kg
- American bison, 900 kg
- Savannah buffalo, 860 kg

The pygmy or pygmy hippopotamus is much smaller with an average body
mass of 160 to 190 kg for cows and 200 to 280 kg for bulls and adults
and an average shoulder height of 82 cm. The 's snout is smaller and
narrower than that of the hippopotamus, and the skin is bluish-black,
sometimes with a dark green tint.


Adult

 cows

have an average body weight of

 1,350 kg

and an average shoulder height of 144 cm. Adult

 bulls

are larger with an average mass of

 1,500 kg

and an average shoulder height of 150 cm. The hippopotamus is one of the largest megaherbivores in the world. In order, others are the African elephant, from 2 500 to 3 800 kgHippopotamus, white rhino &amp;

How much do hippos weigh?

Common [Hippos](https://simplyecologist.com/how-fast-can-a-hippo-run/)
are endemic to Africa, ranging widely over most of sub-Saharan Africa,
from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia in
the east, and south to KwaZulu--Natal in NE. South Africa, the Okavango
Delta in Botswana, and the Kunene R. in Namibia. They are restricted to
appropriate areas, e.g.meadows with rivers, lakes, and swamps; absent
from
[rainforest](https://simplyecologist.com/what-do-bengal-tigers-eat-in-the-tropical-rainforest/)
except for rivers with adjacent grassy areas.

In the past, Common Hippos occurred in the Nile R. to the Nile Delta,
and until 1700 they were still present in two disjoint areas of the Nile
Delta and in the upper Nile; the last definite records from Egypt come
from the early 1800s, their disappearance principally caused by hunting.

Common Hipposalso occurred in the Sahara, and in South Africa, right to
the Cape where they have been wiped out in historic times. In the recent
past, they have been locally eradicated or severely reduced. For
example, the populations of the crater lakes around Dongobesh, Basodesh,
and Hanang in Tanganyika have completely vanished over the last 50
years.

Apparently, previously present on Mafia I., and possible that they still
occasionally occur; excluded from the fauna of Zanzibar and Pemba.

## Present Distribution of Hippopotamus {#present-distribution-of-hippopotamus .wp-block-heading}

Distribution in Africa, where it is currently confined to Alto lowland
forests, Guinea to Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. An
isolated subspecies, *C. l. heslopi,* which previously occurred about
1800 km east of the Niger Delta east of Cross R.region of the province
of Calabar, and the marshes of Niger R .in Kwale, and Aboada, Asaba,
Onitsha, the subspecies has not been recorded for over half a century
and its continued presence seems unlikely.

It is suggested that the only remaining possibility was in the Upper
Orashi Forest Reserve. Their current distribution is more fragmented
than in the past, largely due to significant forest loss in the Upper
Guinea lowland rainforests.

The core of the species' range is centered in Liberia, which has the
most extensive tracts of intact lowland forest in the region.

Pygmy hippos are also found in neighboring Sierra Leone, south-eastern
Guinea (including Ziama and Diécké), and south-western Côted'Ivoire, in
Haut Cavally R., south of the Mt Nimba massif. In Liberia, their
distribution seems to be divided between the large remaining forest
blocks in the southeast (centered on SapoN. P.) and in the northwest of
the country.

The extreme west of the
[species](https://simplyecologist.com/how-do-ecologists-study-species/)
seems to have been authentically recorded in the past near Forécariah,
Kindia, Guinea, but there is no present day records further west from
northwestern Sierra Leone.

Pygmy hippos are noted in Loma Mts, north of the country. With the
exception of northwestern Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire Bandama R. as far
north as the confluence of the NziR., no other locations have been noted
where the pygmy and common hippos are currently overlapping.

Historically, however, it is likely that these two species had small
range overlaps; for example, in southwestern and 100 years ago in the
Junk River region of Liberia, Heslop (1945)reported seeing pygmy
[hippo](https://simplyecologist.com/what-does-the-hippo-eat/) tracks
within 20 feet of those of a common hippo in the Niger Delta region.

## Habitat of Common Hippos {#habitat-of-common-hippos .wp-block-heading}

Hippos require water for thermoregulation and skin protection and are
therefore never far from a water source, be it a river, lake, or
orchard. a swamp. Common hippos feed mainly on grasses, so their range
is restricted to
[grasslands](https://simplyecologist.com/adaptations-of-animals-in-the-grasslands/)
and bushes within reach of water (even where they occur in saline water,
grazing and fresh water are essential).

They can use established ponds for many years as long as enough
[food](https://simplyecologist.com/what-do-jaguars-like-to-eat/) is
available and not to be disturbed; seasonal flooding can temporarily
displace them from their established resting places.

## Habitat of Pigmy Hippopotamus {#habitat-of-pigmy-hippopotamus .wp-block-heading}

Lowland primary and secondary evergreen forests, sometimes penetrating
savanna regions along gallery forests. It prefers isolated areas with
low anthropogenic disturbance; the river and marshy areas are much more
frequented than the mountain forest sites. Habitats must provide
adequate cover for resting, calving, and lactation of calves.

Pygmy hippos often follow the streams and ravines of dry-season forests
on their journeys and do not hesitate to cross rivers and streams,
generally fleeing water to take refuge in the forest in case of an
encounter. Dug and eroded levees of forest streams and rivers are not
commonly used as opportunistic retreats, a habit that is exploited by
hunters.

The seasonal climate within the species' range is characterized by a
major dry season variably between Nov. and Mar., with significant
rainfall during the rest of the year.


Common Hippos are endemic to Africa, ranging widely over most of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia in the east, and south to KwaZulu–Natal in NE. South Africa, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and the Kunene R. in Namibia. They are restricted to appropriate areas, e.g.meadows with rivers, lakes, and swamps; absent from rainforest except for rivers with adjacent grassy areas.

Messaggi di Rogue Scholar

How much do hippos weigh?

Where does the hippo live?