Hippopotame vs Ornithorynque

Hippopotamus amphibius compared with Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Key Differences

• Hippopotame is Vulnerable while Ornithorynque is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Hippopotame	Ornithorynque
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)	Monotremata (monotreme)
Family	Hippopotamidae (Hippos)	Ornithorhynchidae
Genus	Hippopotamus (Hippos)	Ornithorhynchus
Species	Hippopotamus amphibius	Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Evolutionary Relationship

Hippopotame and Ornithorynque share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

Hippopotame

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~130.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Ornithorynque

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Hippopotame	Ornithorynque
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	40 years	—
Average Length	3.5 m	—
Average Weight	1.5 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Hippopotame

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.

Ornithorynque

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Hippopotame

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.