Animal
Common hippopotamus
Hugo and a life divided between resting in water and grazing on land at night.
Content language
Warsaw's common hippopotamus Hugo has a pool with underwater viewing. Its glass section reveals more than the back and nostrils visible above the surface. A massive body that seems heavy on land moves under very different conditions in water.
The eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on the head. This arrangement allows a hippo to watch, listen and breathe while most of its body remains submerged. When diving, it closes its nostrils and holds its breath. These features suit life in African rivers and lakes.
Water helps protect the skin from drying out. Hippos spend much of the day in it, then come onto land after dark to graze on grass. Their large canine teeth do not make them specialised hunters: these teeth are mainly used for defence and fights with other hippos.
Underwater, a hippo uses the bottom for support and pushes off from it. This movement should not be confused with the swimming of a fish. Young hippos can also stay in the water and nurse there. Like adults, however, they need to return to the surface to breathe air.
For children
Hugo is Warsaw's common hippopotamus. The glass of his pool reveals what water usually hides. A hippo has its eyes, ears and nostrils high on its head. Most of its body can be underwater while it still watches its surroundings and breathes.
During a dive it closes its nostrils and holds its breath. Later it has to come up for air. Underwater it uses the bottom and pushes off with its legs. It does not move like a fish propelled by fins.
Water keeps its skin from drying out. At night, wild hippos go onto land to eat grass. Their huge canine teeth are mainly for defence and disputes with other hippos. Even a baby hippo can drink its mother's milk underwater, but it needs air from above the surface just as she does.
Question 1 of 2
What allows a hippo to breathe while almost fully submerged?
- Location
- Common hippopotamus - location on the zoo map.