Did you know….
♥ The word “hippopotamus” is from the Greek words meaning “river horse.” Hippos are not actually related to horses at all. They are most closely related to pigs, whales and dolphins.
♥ World Hippo Day is celebrated on February 15th!
♥ Hippos’ eyes and nose are on the top of their head, which is useful for breathing and staying safe from predators while they’re in the water.
♥ Hippos spend most of their time in water! They cannot breathe underwater, but they can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes.
♥ Hippos are mainly herbivorous. They eat mostly plants, up to 80 pounds a day! (That’s a LOT of “salad”!)