Exploring the truth about one of Africa’s most powerful mammals
Many people wonder: is it hippos or hippoes? The correct plural of “hippopotamus” is hippos (or, more formally, hippopotamuses). “Hippoes” is a common mistake but not standard English.
The word comes from Greek: hippos (horse) + potamos (river) = “river horse.”
Hippos are native to sub-Saharan Africa, primarily found in rivers, lakes, and swamps. Sadly, their populations are declining due to habitat loss and poaching.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the common hippo as Vulnerable, with an estimated population of 115,000–130,000 individuals.
Hippos can’t swim! Instead, they walk or bounce along the bottom of rivers. Their dense bodies sink, so they rely on pushing off the riverbed to move through water.
They also communicate underwater using vocalizations that travel through both air and water simultaneously—a rare trait among mammals!