Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo vs Neotropical otter

Hippopotamus amphibius compared with Lontra longicaudis

Key Differences

• Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo is Vulnerable while Neotropical otter is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Neotropical otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Chordata (حبليات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class same	Mammalia (ثدييات)	Mammalia (ثدييات)
Order	Artiodactyla (مزدوجات الأصابع)	Carnivora (لواحم)
Family	Hippopotamidae (Hippos)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Hippopotamus (Hippos)	Lontra
Species	Hippopotamus amphibius	Lontra longicaudis

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo and Neotropical otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (ثدييات)

Conservation Status

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~130.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Neotropical otter

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Neotropical otter
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	40 years	—
Average Length	3.5 m	—
Average Weight	1.5 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Neotropical otter

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo

Africa's most dangerous large mammal, common hippos can reach 3,200 kg and inhabit rivers, lakes, and wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Semi-aquatic, spending up to 16 hours daily submerged to keep cool, they graze on land at night. Despite appearing docile, hippos are extremely aggressive and territorial, responsible for hundreds of human fatalities annually. Vulnerable, with populations threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting for ivory tusks.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia