February 15 is a special day to celebrate the world's third-largest mammal, the hippopotamus. On this day, it's great to learn more about hippos. The blue whale and African elephant are the only mammals larger than hippos. The word hippopotamus translates to river horse in ancient Greek. These giant creatures weigh up to 8,000 pounds. Africa is the only continent where hippos are found natively, inhabiting over 30 African countries. Pixelflit has uploaded wild and aggressive hippo photos for World Hippo Day for you to download and enjoy. Hippos are fascinating creatures that spend up to 16 hours daily in water, secrete a natural sunscreen, and can run up to 19 mph despite their massive size. Their populations are currently vulnerable due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.
