An adult hippo can be anywhere from 9.5 to 14 feet long and weigh from 5,000 to 8,000 pounds. The heaviest known hippopotamus was approximately 9,900 pounds. The male hippo continues to grow throughout its life. They spend most of their time in rivers, lakes and swamps trying to stay cool. The name “hippopotamus” itself aptly means “river horse.” These animals, after staying in water most of the day, will emerge at dusk to graze for several hours. It is not uncommon for a full-grown hippo to eat up to 150 pounds of grass in a 5 to 6 hour span.
