Hippos

This passage talks about hippos and how they live.

Lexile Level: 850L

Categories: Animals & Nature

Hippos are one of the largest mammals to live on land. Only elephants and rhinos are larger. Despite their spot on top of the land lubbers, hippos spend most of their time wading in the water. Their name even comes from the Greek word for "river horse." With their ears, eyes, and nose on the top of their head, hippos can still use their senses even when their bodies are mostly underwater. Most baby hippos are born underwater. The babies learn to swim right away. The babies, or calves, even nurse underwater. The water helps the thick-skinned animal weather the hot African sun. When the temperatures fall at night, the hippos climb out of the water to eat grass along the riverbanks. Some hippos eat 150 pounds of grass each night. When the sun rises, the hippos return to the river to lie on their stomachs in the shallow water and rest.