Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo vs Java stingaree

Hippopotamus amphibius compared with Urolophus javanicus

Key Differences

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo is Vulnerable while Java stingaree is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Java stingaree
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes)
Family	Hippopotamidae (Hippos)	Urolophidae
Genus	Hippopotamus (Hippos)	Urolophus
Species	Hippopotamus amphibius	Urolophus javanicus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo and Java stingaree share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~130.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Java stingaree

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Java stingaree
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.

Java stingaree

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.