Weighing 1300–3200 kg, the Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) ranks as one of the heaviest herbivore mammals (#4 of 50). Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, it lives in rivers, lakes habitats and is classified as Vulnerable.
Physical Characteristics & Habitat
Size & Speed
| Metric | Hippopotamus | Herbivore Mammals Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.3K kg | 117.3 kg | ↑ 1819% |
| Height | 140 cm | — | — |
| Top Speed | 30 km/h | 40 km/h | ↓ 25% |
| Avg Speed | 25 km/h | — | — |
Habitat & Distribution
The Hippopotamus inhabits rivers, lakes habitats. It can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Typical coloring: Grey.
Diet & Predators
Behavior & Reproduction
Social Structure
The Hippopotamus is a group-based species belonging to the Hippopotamidae family.
Reproduction
Conservation & Comparison
IUCN Conservation Status
VU The Hippopotamus is classified as Vulnerable. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.
Species Comparison
Among 50 herbivore mammals, the Hippopotamus’s weight of 1300–3200 kg is significantly higher than the group median of 117.3 kg.
Weight rank: #4 of 34 Vulnerable species.
| # | Species | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sperm Whale | Up to 57000 kg | VU |
| 2 | African Elephant | 2700–6000 kg | VU |
| 3 | Great White Shark | Up to 2268 kg | VU |
| 4 | Hippopotamus | 1300–3200 kg | VU |
| 5 | Gaur | 600–1300 kg | VU |
Related Species
How much does a Hippopotamus weigh?
A Hippopotamus typically weighs 1300–3200 kg, which is exceptionally high compared to the median of 117.3 kg among herbivore mammals.
What is the conservation status of the Hippopotamus?
The Hippopotamus is classified as “Vulnerable”. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.
Where does the Hippopotamus live?
The Hippopotamus is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, in rivers, lakes habitats.
How does the Hippopotamus reproduce?
The Hippopotamus has a gestation period of 230–250 days and typically produces 1 offspring per birth.
Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.
Last Updated: April 10, 2026