Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo vs Kentish Plover

Hippopotamus amphibius compared with Charadrius alexandrinus

Key Differences

• Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo is Vulnerable while Kentish Plover is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Kentish Plover
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Hippopotamidae (Hippos)	Charadriidae
Genus	Hippopotamus (Hippos)	Charadrius
Species	Hippopotamus amphibius	Charadrius alexandrinus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~130.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Kentish Plover

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus, Large Hippo	Kentish Plover
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.

Kentish Plover

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and temperate grasslands and steppes within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.