Hippopotamus - The Common Hippo

The common hippo is barrel-shaped, measuring 14 ft (4 m) long, 4.5 ft (1.5 m) high and weighing about 2 tons (1,800 kg). Large males have been known to reach 4.5 tons (3,800 kg). The common hippo is slate brown in color, shading to either a lighter or darker color on the underside.

Common hippos have relatively short legs for their vast girth, but hippos spend most of the day under water, with only the top of their head visible. Their eyes are sited on top of their head, and sometimes only the eyes, the flicking ears, and a small mound of back are all that is visible.