April 02, 2021

Species Spotlight

This week’s Species Spotlight: Nile hippopotamus

Animal Name: Mashavu 

Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibius

Geographical Range: Sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat: Rivers and lakes with surrounding grasslands

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Home at the Zoo: River’s Edge

Fun Fact: Hippopotamus means "river horse" in Greek, but the animal is more closely related to the pig than the horse.

Photo: Robin Winkelman #StlZooSpeciesSpotlight