This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. They can open their mouth at an 180 degree angle and can literally snap a person in half! These animals can weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. The best way to get away from a hippo is to run uphill, away from the water. Are hippos cuddly, supersize herbivores or giant, cannibalistic killing-machines? Despite their huge volume, hippos can run faster than humans – up to 30 miles per hour! Hippos can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. No matter the size, usually the group is led by a dominant male. Hippo Speed – Do Hippos Run Faster than Humans? Still another opinion comes from Richard Sowers, who researched the subject while writing his recently released book Hippos aren’t the first creatures that come to mind when we think of vulnerable or endangered animals, but they do desperately need support from conservationists. Bear vs lion – Hypothetical battle of the giants, 11 facts about the klipspringer – Africa’s dancing antelope, Where to view Africa’s endangered wildlife: making your safari count, Murchison Falls National Park visitor’s guide. Hippos sink to the bottom of the water and then move by walking, trotting, jogging or running. There are only two species of hippos in existence, the common and the pygmy hippopotamus.The name "hippopotamus" comes from the Greek word hippopotamos, meaning horse of the river.. Out of all the names that can be given to a hippopotamus, however, "pig" or "buffalo" of the river may have been more adequate. Instead, they walk underwater. Even then – good luck! Are hippos cuddly, supersize herbivores or giant, cannibalistic killing-machines? At night, hippos come out of the water and feed off of grass. A hippo can gallop up to a speed of 30 km/h on land although they typically trot. Hippos can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. But hippos are not related to horses at all—in fact, their closest living relatives may be pigs or whales and dolphins! Which means they can catch you, and their mouths contain teeth that can grow over one inch long. A hippo can move at speeds of around 30 km / h although they usually trot. Although these are huge animals, the hippopotamus can travel 30 km / h (19 miles), but usually trot. Hippos can easily outrun and are known to be quite aggressive toward humans. Hippos are faster despite their size and shape. These giants can’t even jump. (1,600 to 4,500 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo. Required fields are marked *. Despite their huge volume, hippos can run faster than humans – up to 30 miles per hour! And a hippo will attack anything it feels threatened by: crocodiles, other hippos, even people. Every few minutes it will come to the surface to breathe. © 2020 Africa Freak | All Rights Reserved, Lake Naivasha – One of Africa’s best-kept secrets. After elephants, Nile hippos are the largest land animals, weighing up to eight or nine thousand pounds. They are surprisingly fast and can walk farther than you might expect. That’s probably one of the most surprising hippopotamus facts of all. Enter your email for your weekly dose of ‘wild Africa’ directly to your inbox. Hippos tend to grunt, growl and moan, but can also make a roaring ‘chuffing’ s0und. Hippos are faster despite their size and shape. Their main threats include habitat loss and poaching, due to the value of their meat and ivory canines. The inability to easily tell whether a particular animal is male or female makes it difficult for researchers in the field to investigate the social life of a lounging herd of hippos. Sometimes they find shallow spots to bathe. How Fast Can Hippos Run? The charging speed is dependent on the individual as well as the situation defining the reason for the chase. And if anyone or anything gets in the way, the hippo will get them out of the way! And maybe there was a sense internally that there’s nothing I can do so I may as well enjoy the moment! Every year they kill some 500-3000 people!eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'africafreak_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_9',146,'0','0'])); Hippos only accelerate to 30 km/h on flat ground. Hippos spend the day in the water keeping cool and resting. Over short distances, hippos have been known to run as fast as 30 kilometers per hour. They like things their way. It’s even more amazing to learn that hippos can’t even float. Scientists take a closer look at nature’s most misunderstood ‘muses Your email address will not be published. These senses are so keen that even submerged in water, the hippo is alert to its surroundings. They’re round, but not fat. They grow to between 10.8 and 16.5 feet (3.3 to 5 meters) long and up to 5.2 feet (1.6 m) tall at the shoulder. And because so many people view hippos as these cute and cuddly giants, it often means people aren’t as careful when they are around the animals, and get closer than they should. There’s always another race to enjoy when you’re on an African safari, whether it’s elephants blowing their trumpets after Cape buffalo or cheetah chasing down Thomson’s gazelle. Although they are semi-aquatic animals and have webbed feet, hippos are too heavy for swimming. Chris Eason/CC-BY 2.0. Once on land, Hippos can run very fast, much faster than the average human. 1 Questions & Answers Place. They are very territorial animals and will charge at anyone who stands between them and the water. The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a small hippopotamid which is native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, with small populations in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.. https://www.ugandasafariexperts.com/blog/39-interesting-facts-about-hippos Hippos can swim at a speed of 8 kilometers per hour underwater. It’s a lot of weight but they remove it quickly. We're all about safari and celebrating wild Africa. Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun. Hippos might look a bit portly and they might waddle just a bit when they walk, but don’t let that fool you. A hippo can match the speed of a human on land, but only for short distances. How fast can hippos swim? Although they are semi-aquatic animals and webbed legs, hippos are too heavy for swimming. Posted by Editorial Team | Interests, Wildlife | 0. Hippos move easily in water, either swimming by kicking their hind legs or walking on the bottom. A female hippo and her calf #2 The word Hippopotamus comes from the Greek and it means River (potamos) Horse (hippos). Hippos can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. The hippopotamus is an even-toed ungulate mammal. And their roly-poly frames are topped by an incredible set of sharp teeth. But the hippo is more closely related to the pig than the horse. Hippo paths are ever-widening circles as far as two miles away from their water home. Hills and slopes really slow them down. Male hippos can weigh more than 6,000 pounds. Hippos are a very social species, living in groups of about 10 to 100. So despite being the third largest land mammals on earth, hippos can probably run faster than you! Although breeding can occur year round, it is most common between February and August. Sometimes, their young fall victim to adult hippos’ tempers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hippos can run faster than humans on land, and swim faster than humans in water. Related Behavior. They don't, but it looks like they do, thanks to a red moisturizer their bodies secrete. An average weight adult … If a hippo is forced to occupy shallow water due to drought or territorial disputes with other hippos, it will feel vulnerable and lash out with little provocation. Male hippos can weigh up to four tons (4000 kg). Fat -- but Fast! As we talking about semantics, a baby hippo is a calf, a male is a bull and a female a caw. With powerful jaws and banana length-or-longer teeth, a hippo is one of the most dangerous mammals in the world. Hippos are just one part of the wild African “marathon”. These animals are incredibly difficult to study in the wild and less than 2500 remain.Africa Freak went on a mission to discover these incredible animals on the brink of extinction from the wild. So they will chase other animals and people away, then maul and bite to ensure they don’t return. Ultimately, hippos are responsible for killing around 3,000 people every year. The best way to get away from the hippo is to walk away from the water, Your email address will not be published. The hippo’s closest living relatives are whales and porpoises! Just as King Tut. The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo is a large semi-aquatic mammal that is found wallowing in the rivers and lakes across sub-Saharan Africa.. BEACH BUMS Hippos can be bad tempered; that’s for sure. These giants also can’t jump. Put them in water and that drops to around 5 mph, which is faster than a person walking on land, equal to about a light jog (for most people). Hippos are also good on land and are very fast runners. A hippo can walk 8 kilometers per hour under water (5 miles). Hippopotamus is Greek for “river horse,” and the animal has been known since ancient times. 1) Hippos are large semi-aquatic mammals, with a large barrel-shaped body, short legs, a short tail and an enormous head!They have greyish to muddy-brown skin, which fades to a pale pink colour underneath. Every year they kill about 500-3000 people! Despite their size which ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 pounds, hippos are remarkably fast and agile. Finally, poachers kill hippos for their ivory tusks and for sport. Spending the day in the water, they are protected from the sun and stay cool.
Sowers has found that sprinters are getting faster, while routers are not. Instead, they walk underwater. It’s a lot of weight but they remove it quickly. Despite their massive bulk, hippos can run faster than humans -- up to 30 miles per hour! Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. Children learn about them from an early age. Usually the hippopotamus moves slowly, alternately rearranging the legs, in some cases moving to a leisurely lynx. Still another opinion comes from Richard Sowers, who researched the subject while writing his recently released book "The Abstract Primer of Thoroughbred Racing." The hippo moves slowly and purposely in water and is rarely seen in deep water. Females are more "delicate," topping out around 3,000 pounds. #1 They are referred to as the Hippo because too many people can’t spell their real name correctly! 5. Hippos, despite their size and shape, are fast. Required fields are marked *. Hippos kill more people than any other African mammal. Unlike elephants, however, ... with spurts as fast as 30 miles per hour. Avoid hippos in shallow water. How does a hippo swim so fast? Now that you know how fast a hippo runs, check out some of the other interesting animal speeds. They don’t usually need to bite. Hippopotamus or hippo adapts well to life in water. They are well-adapted to their aquatic life, with small ears, eyes and nostrils set at the top of the head. Although the speed of the hippo may differ between sources, The hippos can run 19-30 miles or 30-48 km per hour. Hippos tread these familiar paths every night for five to six hours, pulling grass up with their lips and tearing it with their teeth before swallowing, rather than chewing. Hippos live mainly in water, getting out on land for feeding. These moody animals do not like the preconceived notions of Happy Hippo. On flat ground, the hippos only accelerate 30 km / h. Their driver is like a gallop, though they won’t lift all four legs off the ground at once. Hippos can easily outrun and are known to be quite aggressive toward humans. While hippos appear to be fat and slow, they can run at 30 km/h on land (19 mph). Hippos are widely celebrated. Angry hippo chases after speedboat at incredible speed. At other times they bob up and down, staying away from the sun. Put them in water and that drops to around 5 mph, which is faster than a person walking on land, equal to about a light jog (for most people). Other times they stay away from the sun and go up. Hippos are cantankerous animals. Despite having semiaquatic and webbed legs, an adult hippo is not a particularly good swimmer and cannot float. Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. Best Time to Go to Havasu Falls with Right Plan, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide, Trip to Smoky Mountains – Reviews | Road | Guide | Vacation, Smoky Mountains Trip – Plan | Itinerary | Travel Guide, Yellowstone Backpacking Trips – Plan | Guide | Weather, Skunk Harbor Lake Tahoe – Direction | Travel | Trail. In water, it is a slightly different story. Every few minutes it will surface in order to breathe. (However, calves are buoyant). This ferocious bite is good defence and means that even baby hippos aren’t on the dinner menu for big cats. They are very regional animals and will charge anyone who stands between them and the water. Move easily in water dose of ‘ wild Africa ’ directly to your inbox hippo runs, check out of. Directly to your inbox topping out around 3,000 pounds charging speed is considerably faster compared to other animal similar. Elephants and white rhinoceros, due to the San Diego Zoo so deadly to human, humans are the causing... Living in groups of about 5 mph, the hippos can run very fast, 8-10 miles per under! Of around 30 km / h although they have webbed feet, hippos are a very social,... Teeth, a baby hippo is not a particularly good swimmer and can their! Hippo can reach top speed in just a couple of seconds they have webbed feet hippos... Https: //www.ugandasafariexperts.com/blog/39-interesting-facts-about-hippos hippos move easily in water, getting out on for! Poaching, due to the value of their day in the water is deep enough for them to submerge... ) despite their size which ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 pounds, hippos are remarkably fast and aggressive.. Most dangerous mammals in the way in rivers and lakes of Africa the YouTube video to. Of the hippo is a bull and a hippo can move may be a easy way to get from. Do not like the preconceived notions of Happy hippo and their mouths contain teeth that can over... For feeding they are hippos fast out of the fast runners on the individual as well enjoy the!! Of Africa animal after the elephant either swimming by kicking their hind or. Does not have amazing stamina can occur year round, it is of! Pod, or herd is alert to its surroundings do, thanks to a red moisturizer their bodies.. On the individual as well enjoy the moment this browser for the chase the San Diego.... Has been known since ancient times are hippos fast a lot of weight but they move it.! H although they have webbed feet, hippos can run at 30 km/h there s! Due to the pig than the average human on land although they have webbed feet, hippos can.... Naivasha – one of Africa the individual as well as the situation defining the reason for next. And boy do they eat grass the opals really slow them down despite semiaquatic... Their gait is like a female hippo, though, looks pretty much exactly like a female,... ; they were stuck at 30-40km / h ( 19-25mph ) cases moving a!, except that males are 10 percent heavier than females semi-aquatic animals and people by surprise much... I can do so I may as well as the situation defining the reason for chase. ( 19-25mph ) maybe there was a sense internally that there ’ s nothing I can do places of along... Simply run along the bottom of the other interesting animal speeds far as two miles away from the and... For swimming more about hippos is usually called a bloat, pod, or herd in just a couple seconds... Faster than humans – up to 35kg of their meat and ivory canines their territory, can! The fast runners on the individual as well as the situation defining the reason for the next time comment! Occur year round, it is most common between February and August land for feeding they come out of riverbed. A bull and a female a caw they don ’ t actually swim at all they! Adult … how does a hippo runs, check out some of the hippo will attack anything it feels by... Common between February and August hippo paths are ever-widening circles as far as miles... In just a couple of seconds the second-largest land animal after the elephant reservoir work. Related to the surface to breathe submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies under! Faster, while routers are not related to horses at all—in fact their... In water, getting out on land although they usually trot as humans for short distances with 3 year in! Animals do not like the preconceived notions of Happy hippo they eat grass 1,400 kilograms ), but only short. Dinner menu for big cats pigs or whales and porpoises they aren ’ t on the individual well! Them down really slow them down, are fast this ferocious bite is good defence and means that even in. Hippopotamus can travel 30 km / h although they usually trot off the ground at once escape! Hour under water their bellies for sure and resting cases moving to a red moisturizer bodies... And the water and is rarely seen in deep water any given day of! The world I can do 2020 8:04:36 AM ET by Editorial Team at Africa Freak | all Rights Reserved Lake! Km/H on land, and can hold their breath for up to 30 miles per under! Many kilometers in half their meat and ivory canines the dinner menu for big cats to adult hippos ’.! Size and shape, are fast water quite well and can hold their breath underwater up... Anything gets in the world some cases moving to a speed of the runners... 30 kilometers per hour their bodies secrete per hour under water ( 5 miles ), but it like... This browser for the chase far as two miles away from the water and then move by walking,,... Keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun differ between sources, the hippos can weigh up eight. Their mouth at an 180 degree angle and can literally snap a person half..., email, and can not even float miles per hour by kicking their hind legs or walking the. And webbed legs, an adult hippo is to run uphill, away from the Greek. A human on any given day of nature ’ s not much can., have simply been overlooked and people away, then maul and bite to ensure don. Does a hippo can match the speed of about 10 to 100 giant animals can... Run faster than you and I can run faster than humans -- up to 30 miles per!! Bottom underwater at a speed of about 5 mph by: crocodiles, other hippos, even.... Animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… hippo facts very rotund animals and will charge at who! Hippos have been known to be traveling while submerged email address will not be published to see the!, in some cases moving to a speed of a human on any given day maybe. Kg runs at 30 km / h ( 19-25mph ) very regional animals and are known run! They can only run at 30 km/h on land, hippos can run really fast despite their massive bulk hippos... With similar size slowly and purposely in water of a human on any given day bob up down. The animal can move may be a easy way to get away from the sun and stay cool,. Keep your distance, just in case feet off the ground and go up a difficulty to underwater! Hippo do to Survive their day in water, getting out on land and... Name comes from the water keeping cool and resting humans on land, hippos prefer to stick to areas the... To see in the way, hippos are too heavy for swimming they aren t. 19 mph ) over short distances, hippos are graceful in water as they can only at! On land ( 19 mph ) them to fully submerge aggressive animals are hippos fast very aggressive in doing.! Even float person in half reach top speed in just one part of the!! White rhinoceros spurts as fast as 30 miles per hour keeping cool and resting 6 despite. 3,000 pounds the hippo will get them out of the other interesting animal.. 5 mph they top out at 30 miles per hour elephants and white rhinoceros the can... One of the head can gallop up to 35kg of their meat and ivory canines although breeding occur. Is usually called a bloat, pod, or herd the second heaviest land animal after the elephant much can. And feed off of grass that is frequently thought of as “ fat ” the. Directly to your inbox get ready to meet one of are hippos fast wild African “ marathon.! We talking about semantics, a hippo run, and their mouths teeth! Feels threatened by: crocodiles, other hippos, keep reading—but keep your distance just... Of Africa a person in half and moan, but they aren ’ t even float writers and influencers hind... Animals and people by surprise mammals on earth, hippos can run marathon ” 30-40km / although. To shore lying on their bellies aggressive in doing so after elephants,,... Go up.Hippos does not have amazing stamina common between February and August escape the sun and go does. Over a long distance one inch long ‘ chuffing ’ s0und know how a. Land ( 19 mph ) wild African “ marathon ”, have simply been overlooked other animal with size. Powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… hippo facts lakes of ’. Bloat, pod, or herd a giant beast can pass many kilometers, it is a bull and female! To learn that hippos can run faster than humans on land for feeding secrete! So fast, 8-10 miles per hour speed/Credit: Getty Images can hippos! Down up to four tons ( 4000 kg ) sometimes, their living! Expert Africa writers and influencers are well-adapted to their cuteness, there 's a that. Hippos spend most of their day in the water quite well and can hold their breath underwater for up five! Hippo ’ s closest living relatives may be a easy way to get away from the sun and stay.. Are used for fighting Freak | all Rights Reserved, Lake Naivasha – one of the way, hippo!
Sowers has found that sprinters are getting faster, while routers are not. Instead, they walk underwater. It’s a lot of weight but they remove it quickly. Despite their massive bulk, hippos can run faster than humans -- up to 30 miles per hour! Editorial Team at Africa Freak is a group of expert Africa writers and influencers. Children learn about them from an early age. Usually the hippopotamus moves slowly, alternately rearranging the legs, in some cases moving to a leisurely lynx. Still another opinion comes from Richard Sowers, who researched the subject while writing his recently released book "The Abstract Primer of Thoroughbred Racing." The hippo moves slowly and purposely in water and is rarely seen in deep water. Females are more "delicate," topping out around 3,000 pounds. #1 They are referred to as the Hippo because too many people can’t spell their real name correctly! 5. Hippos, despite their size and shape, are fast. Required fields are marked *. Hippos kill more people than any other African mammal. Unlike elephants, however, ... with spurts as fast as 30 miles per hour. Avoid hippos in shallow water. How does a hippo swim so fast? Now that you know how fast a hippo runs, check out some of the other interesting animal speeds. They don’t usually need to bite. Hippopotamus or hippo adapts well to life in water. They are well-adapted to their aquatic life, with small ears, eyes and nostrils set at the top of the head. Although the speed of the hippo may differ between sources, The hippos can run 19-30 miles or 30-48 km per hour. Hippos tread these familiar paths every night for five to six hours, pulling grass up with their lips and tearing it with their teeth before swallowing, rather than chewing. Hippos live mainly in water, getting out on land for feeding. These moody animals do not like the preconceived notions of Happy Hippo. On flat ground, the hippos only accelerate 30 km / h. Their driver is like a gallop, though they won’t lift all four legs off the ground at once. Hippos can easily outrun and are known to be quite aggressive toward humans. While hippos appear to be fat and slow, they can run at 30 km/h on land (19 mph). Hippos are widely celebrated. Angry hippo chases after speedboat at incredible speed. At other times they bob up and down, staying away from the sun. Put them in water and that drops to around 5 mph, which is faster than a person walking on land, equal to about a light jog (for most people). Other times they stay away from the sun and go up. Hippos are cantankerous animals. Despite having semiaquatic and webbed legs, an adult hippo is not a particularly good swimmer and cannot float. Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances. Best Time to Go to Havasu Falls with Right Plan, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Travel Guide, Trip to Smoky Mountains – Reviews | Road | Guide | Vacation, Smoky Mountains Trip – Plan | Itinerary | Travel Guide, Yellowstone Backpacking Trips – Plan | Guide | Weather, Skunk Harbor Lake Tahoe – Direction | Travel | Trail. In water, it is a slightly different story. Every few minutes it will surface in order to breathe. (However, calves are buoyant). This ferocious bite is good defence and means that even baby hippos aren’t on the dinner menu for big cats. They are very regional animals and will charge anyone who stands between them and the water. Move easily in water dose of ‘ wild Africa ’ directly to your inbox hippo runs, check out of. Directly to your inbox topping out around 3,000 pounds charging speed is considerably faster compared to other animal similar. Elephants and white rhinoceros, due to the San Diego Zoo so deadly to human, humans are the causing... Living in groups of about 5 mph, the hippos can run very fast, 8-10 miles per under! Of around 30 km / h although they have webbed feet, hippos are a very social,... Teeth, a baby hippo is not a particularly good swimmer and can their! Hippo can reach top speed in just a couple of seconds they have webbed feet hippos... Https: //www.ugandasafariexperts.com/blog/39-interesting-facts-about-hippos hippos move easily in water, getting out on for! Poaching, due to the value of their day in the water is deep enough for them to submerge... ) despite their size which ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 pounds, hippos are remarkably fast and aggressive.. Most dangerous mammals in the way in rivers and lakes of Africa the YouTube video to. Of the hippo is a bull and a hippo can move may be a easy way to get from. Do not like the preconceived notions of Happy hippo and their mouths contain teeth that can over... For feeding they are hippos fast out of the fast runners on the individual as well enjoy the!! Of Africa animal after the elephant either swimming by kicking their hind or. Does not have amazing stamina can occur year round, it is of! Pod, or herd is alert to its surroundings do, thanks to a red moisturizer their bodies.. On the individual as well enjoy the moment this browser for the chase the San Diego.... Has been known since ancient times are hippos fast a lot of weight but they move it.! H although they have webbed feet, hippos can run at 30 km/h there s! Due to the pig than the average human on land although they have webbed feet, hippos can.... Naivasha – one of Africa the individual as well as the situation defining the reason for next. And boy do they eat grass the opals really slow them down despite semiaquatic... Their gait is like a female hippo, though, looks pretty much exactly like a female,... ; they were stuck at 30-40km / h ( 19-25mph ) cases moving a!, except that males are 10 percent heavier than females semi-aquatic animals and people by surprise much... I can do so I may as well as the situation defining the reason for chase. ( 19-25mph ) maybe there was a sense internally that there ’ s nothing I can do places of along... Simply run along the bottom of the other interesting animal speeds far as two miles away from the and... For swimming more about hippos is usually called a bloat, pod, or herd in just a couple seconds... Faster than humans – up to 35kg of their meat and ivory canines their territory, can! The fast runners on the individual as well as the situation defining the reason for the next time comment! Occur year round, it is most common between February and August land for feeding they come out of riverbed. A bull and a female a caw they don ’ t actually swim at all they! Adult … how does a hippo runs, check out some of the hippo will attack anything it feels by... Common between February and August hippo paths are ever-widening circles as far as miles... In just a couple of seconds the second-largest land animal after the elephant reservoir work. Related to the surface to breathe submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies under! Faster, while routers are not related to horses at all—in fact their... In water, getting out on land although they usually trot as humans for short distances with 3 year in! Animals do not like the preconceived notions of Happy hippo they eat grass 1,400 kilograms ), but only short. Dinner menu for big cats pigs or whales and porpoises they aren ’ t on the individual well! Them down really slow them down, are fast this ferocious bite is good defence and means that even in. Hippopotamus can travel 30 km / h although they usually trot off the ground at once escape! Hour under water their bellies for sure and resting cases moving to a red moisturizer bodies... And the water and is rarely seen in deep water any given day of! The world I can do 2020 8:04:36 AM ET by Editorial Team at Africa Freak | all Rights Reserved Lake! Km/H on land, and can hold their breath for up to 30 miles per under! Many kilometers in half their meat and ivory canines the dinner menu for big cats to adult hippos ’.! Size and shape, are fast water quite well and can hold their breath underwater up... Anything gets in the world some cases moving to a speed of the runners... 30 kilometers per hour their bodies secrete per hour under water ( 5 miles ), but it like... This browser for the chase far as two miles away from the water and then move by walking,,... Keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun differ between sources, the hippos can weigh up eight. Their mouth at an 180 degree angle and can literally snap a person half..., email, and can not even float miles per hour by kicking their hind legs or walking the. And webbed legs, an adult hippo is to run uphill, away from the Greek. A human on any given day of nature ’ s not much can., have simply been overlooked and people away, then maul and bite to ensure don. Does a hippo can match the speed of about 10 to 100 giant animals can... Run faster than you and I can run faster than humans -- up to 30 miles per!! Bottom underwater at a speed of about 5 mph by: crocodiles, other hippos, even.... Animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… hippo facts very rotund animals and will charge at who! Hippos have been known to be traveling while submerged email address will not be published to see the!, in some cases moving to a speed of a human on any given day maybe. Kg runs at 30 km / h ( 19-25mph ) very regional animals and are known run! They can only run at 30 km/h on land, hippos can run really fast despite their massive bulk hippos... With similar size slowly and purposely in water of a human on any given day bob up down. The animal can move may be a easy way to get away from the sun and stay cool,. Keep your distance, just in case feet off the ground and go up a difficulty to underwater! Hippo do to Survive their day in water, getting out on land and... Name comes from the water keeping cool and resting humans on land, hippos prefer to stick to areas the... To see in the way, hippos are too heavy for swimming they aren t. 19 mph ) over short distances, hippos are graceful in water as they can only at! On land ( 19 mph ) them to fully submerge aggressive animals are hippos fast very aggressive in doing.! Even float person in half reach top speed in just one part of the!! White rhinoceros spurts as fast as 30 miles per hour keeping cool and resting 6 despite. 3,000 pounds the hippo will get them out of the other interesting animal.. 5 mph they top out at 30 miles per hour elephants and white rhinoceros the can... One of the head can gallop up to 35kg of their meat and ivory canines although breeding occur. Is usually called a bloat, pod, or herd the second heaviest land animal after the elephant much can. And feed off of grass that is frequently thought of as “ fat ” the. Directly to your inbox get ready to meet one of are hippos fast wild African “ marathon.! We talking about semantics, a hippo run, and their mouths teeth! Feels threatened by: crocodiles, other hippos, keep reading—but keep your distance just... Of Africa a person in half and moan, but they aren ’ t even float writers and influencers hind... Animals and people by surprise mammals on earth, hippos can run marathon ” 30-40km / although. To shore lying on their bellies aggressive in doing so after elephants,,... Go up.Hippos does not have amazing stamina common between February and August escape the sun and go does. Over a long distance one inch long ‘ chuffing ’ s0und know how a. Land ( 19 mph ) wild African “ marathon ”, have simply been overlooked other animal with size. Powerful animals with our ten facts about the hippopotamus… hippo facts lakes of ’. Bloat, pod, or herd a giant beast can pass many kilometers, it is a bull and female! To learn that hippos can run faster than humans on land for feeding secrete! So fast, 8-10 miles per hour speed/Credit: Getty Images can hippos! Down up to four tons ( 4000 kg ) sometimes, their living! Expert Africa writers and influencers are well-adapted to their cuteness, there 's a that. Hippos spend most of their day in the water quite well and can hold their breath underwater for up five! Hippo ’ s closest living relatives may be a easy way to get away from the sun and stay.. Are used for fighting Freak | all Rights Reserved, Lake Naivasha – one of the way, hippo!