a male hippo is called a 'bull', a female is called a 'cow' and a baby is called a 'calf'
a group of hippos is known as a 'herd', 'pod', 'dale' or 'bloat'
hippos ear, eyes and nostrils are located at the top of their head which allows them to see, hear and breath while mostly submerged under water
a clear membrane covers their eyes allowing them to see clearer underwater and their nostrils close to keep water out allowing them to hold their breath underwater for several minutes
after females give birth, they will leave the herd to bond with their new-born calves underwater
There are two hippo species both found in Africa. The large hippo is found in East Africa while the pigmy hippo is limited to restricted ranges in West Africa.
Reproduction
During the dry season, the dominant male chooses a partner to mate with, leaving the other males to fight over the remaining females. Gestation is about 8 months and females give birth to one calf at a time (either on land or in water).
Habitat
Hippos can mainly be found living in lakes and rivers- habitats must meet basic requirements and needs, and they do not like shallow bodies of water. They prefer bodies of water with flat bottoms that are easy to move around in- no rocky bottoms as it slows them down and could cause injury.
Nutrition/Diet
Herbivore Hippos leave the water at night to feed- feed on short grass for 6 hours a night- consuming up to 150 lbs of grass per night. They might travel up to several miles to find an adequate grazing area.