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Why do hippopotamuses eat relatively little food for their huge size?

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A hippopotamus stands at the edge of a watering hole, with several other hippos partially submerged in the water, surrounded by green vegetation in Botswana, Africa. — hippopotamus The word *hippopotamus* is Greek for “river horse,” which reflects their behavior: they are often seen basking on the banks or sleeping in the waters of rivers, lakes, and swamps across Africa. They favor shallow areas where they can sleep half-submerged, though these places can become quite crowded—as many as 150 hippos may use one pool in the dry season.

Hippopotamuses consume relatively little vegetation for their massive size—typically about 35 kg (80 pounds) per night—because their energy requirements are quite low. This is primarily due to the fact that they spend much of their time buoyed in warm water, which reduces the energy needed to support their weight.1

Additionally, while they do not chew cud, they retain food in their stomach for long periods, allowing them to extract protein through fermentation as part of their digestive process.1