Hippos are very fascinating animals to study and observe. With their semi-aquatic lifestyle, they appear to be more closely related to whales than to other ungulate mammals. Their ability to be versatile in their habitats helps protect them from the various dangers they face. During this research paper, I learned many facts about hippos that I was not aware of before. The hippopotamus is part of the kingdom Animalia and from there it is part of the phylum, Chordata. They belong to the class Mammalia which joins the order Artiodactyls. The hippopotamus belongs to the Hippopotamidea family. The genus they belong to is Hippopotamus. The species they belong to is H. Amphibious. (Burnie, David and Don E. Wilson, 2011) The pygmy hippopotamus, although in the same family, is in a different genus than the common hippopotamus. While the pygmy hippo has a rounded skeleton adapted for spending the majority of time on land, the common hippo has a spine parallel to the ground that is adapted for spending more time in water. Additionally, the legs of the common hippopotamus are wider, with more webbing than those of the pygmy hippopotamus whose legs are narrower for walking on the forest floor. Pygmy and common hippos have common traits in their skin that require spending the majority of their time in water to avoid drying out and cracking. (“Pygmy Hippopotamus”) Hippos have many characteristics that help them survive in the environment they live in, found primarily along the lakes, rivers, and swamps of Africa. Their eyes, ears, and nostrils are located at the top of their head, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time. Hippos...... middle of paper ......garlic/hippopotamus>."Hippopotamus Habitat." Hippo facts and information. Hippo Worlds, 2009. Web. February 26, 2012. “Hippopotamus”. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, February 26, 2012. Web. February 27, 2012. .Pearce, Fred. “Poaching is causing a collapse in the hippo population.” - Environment. August 29, 2003. The web. February 27, 2012. “Pygmy hippopotamus”. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, February 27, 2012. Web. February 27, 2012. .Shefferly, Nancy. “Hippopotamus Amphibiushippopotamus.” ADW: Hippopotamus Amphibius: INFORMATION. Web on animal diversity. Internet. February 27. 2012. .