Hippopotamus

Scientific name: Hippopotamus amphibius

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Massive, barrel-bodied animal with stocky legs and smooth, moist gray-brown skin that appears hairless. Males are substantially larger than females and possess more prominent tusks and a more robust pelvic structure.

Size and weight

Males typically weigh 1500–1800 kg; females 1300–1500 kg. Body length 300–400 cm.

Habitat

Hippopotamuses inhabit rivers, lakes, and wetlands across sub-Saharan Africa, favoring deep waters adjacent to dense riparian vegetation. They require permanent or semi-permanent water bodies near grassland grazing areas.

Distribution

Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa along major river and lake systems including the Nile, Zambezi, and Congo. Range restricted to permanent or reliable seasonal waters.

Diet

Primarily nocturnal grazers consuming up to 40 kg of grass nightly; also feed on aquatic vegetation and occasionally carrion; forage intake decreases markedly in dry seasons.

Behaviour

Strictly nocturnal and aquatic; spend entire days submerged and emerge at dusk to forage on adjacent grasslands. Highly gregarious, forming stable pods with marked territorial aggression among bull males.

Hunting tips

Locate animals via deep prints in riverine mud, massive dung accumulations at water margins, and extensive trampling damage to bankside vegetation. Approach from downwind along shorelines during dawn or dusk; exploit tall riparian cover for concealment. Silence and patience are essential when stalking pods or territorial bulls.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 12 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.