What Is a Hippopotamus?
A hippo is a mammal. It has a little hair, breathes air and feeds milk to its calf.
Hippos live near rivers and lakes in Africa. They leave the water to eat grass.
Hippopotamus
A hippopotamus is also called a hippo. It is a very big animal with a round body, short legs and a wide mouth. Hippos live in Africa.
Fun Facts About Hippopotamuses
- A baby hippo is called a calf.
- Hippos rest in water to stay cool.
- A hippo has a very wide mouth.
- A group of hippos is called a pod.
Easy learning for little ones
Talk and Move
Try one short prompt at a time. Children can point, speak or copy the movement.
- 1
Point to the hippopotamus's wide mouth.
- 2
Say āhippopotamusā slowly together.
- 3
Pretend to wade through shallow water.
Home, Food and Movement
- Home: rivers, lakes and nearby grasslands
- Food: mostly grass
- Movement: walks and runs on land and moves through water
- Sound: grunts, bellows and wheezes
Easy Practice Sentences
Easy: I see a hippo.
Medium: The hippo has a wide mouth.
Challenge: The hippo rests in cool water.
Say each sentence aloud and point to the picture.
Activity Idea
Make a hippo river picture.
- Draw a river with grass beside it.
- Draw a big, round hippo in the water.
- Add two small ears and a wide mouth.
- Tell a grown-up what your hippo eats.
This activity helps children draw, speak and learn about a hippoās home.
Hippopotamus Body Parts
- Eyes: help the hippo see above the water
- Ears: help it hear
- Nose: helps it breathe and smell
- Mouth: opens very wide
- Feet: help it walk on land and in water
Look and Think
- Can you point to the hippoās small ears?
- How wide is its mouth?
- Can you find its four feet?
- Is the hippo in or near water?
Learning Safely About Hippopotamuses
- Hippos are wild animals. Never go near one.
- Never touch or feed a hippo.
- Stay with a grown-up at the zoo.
- Always stay behind the safety fence.
Compare and Think
- Hippo and horse: both are mammals, but a hippo is not a horse
- Hippo and crocodile: both spend time in water, but a hippo is a mammal
- Hippo and elephant: both are very big, but an elephant has a trunk
Life in and Around Water
Hippos often rest together in the water. The water helps them stay cool.
A mother hippo looks after her calf. The calf stays close while it grows.
Why Hippopotamuses Need Protection
Hippos need clean rivers, grass and safe places to live.
People can protect the rivers and land where hippos live.
Hippopotamus Words to Learn
- Calf: a baby hippo
- Pod: a group of hippos
- River: flowing water where a hippo may rest
- Graze: to eat grass
- Habitat: an animalās home
Check understanding
Quick Questions
Say each answer aloud. Then check it with a grown-up.
Q1
What is a baby hippo called?
Answer
A baby hippo is called a calf.
Q2
What does a hippo eat?
Answer
A hippo eats grass.
Q3
Why does a hippo rest in water?
Answer
The water helps it stay cool.
Q4
What is a group of hippos called?
Answer
A group of hippos is called a pod.