Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus is a large, mostly plant-eating African mammal with a barrel-shaped body, short legs and a broad mouth. Common hippos spend much of the day in rivers or lakes, using the water to shelter their skin from heat. They usually leave the water to graze at night. Eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on the head, allowing a hippo to remain mostly submerged while watching and breathing. Groups gather in water, where adult males may defend access to favored stretches.