Hippopotamus
The common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ), or hippo , is a large, mostly herbivorous, semiquatic mammal native to sub - Saharan African , and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotimidae, the other being the pygym hippopotamus ( Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis ). Common hippos are recognisable by their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths revealing large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, columnar legs and large size; adults average 1,500 kg (3,310 lb) and 1,300 kg (2,870 lb) for males and females respectively, making them the largest species of land mammal after the three species of elephant and the white and Indian rhinocerus . Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. The common hippopotamus inhabits rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of five to thirty females and young. During the da