Environment

Special abilities

Normal sight 15 | Dark vision 5 | Legs 4 | Faster swimming 1 | Faster running 1

The hippopotamus has a stocky body, a large head with a wide-opening maw and short webbing between its toes. Males measure up to five metres and weigh around three tonnes; females are usually about half as heavy.

It spends most of the day in water about a metre deep, so that only its eyes and nostrils peek out. At night it comes out to graze on the vegetation on the banks and covers several kilometres in a night. Although it seems clumsy, it swims superbly, can stay submerged for long minutes and moves surprisingly fast even on land. It can see even in the dark.

Hippos live in herds of about twenty, in which females predominate. They are led by a dominant male, who usually keeps his position for many years; males fight hard duels for dominance, which often end in injury and occasionally even in death. Younger males keep to the side in small groups. Hippos are territorial and mark their territory with dung.

Combat

The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous animals of all. Males as well as females with young are very aggressive and attack practically any intruder in their territory without warning. Even its threatening stance alone can instill fear.