What Do Hippos Eat? A Closer Look at the Diet of the River Giant

With their massive jaws and fearsome appearance, hippos might look like carnivorous beasts—but looks can be deceiving. Despite their size and strength, hippopotamuses are primarily herbivores, and their diet plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystems along African rivers and wetlands.

Let’s dive into what hippos really eat, how they feed, and why their dietary habits are more complex than you might think.

Are Hippos Herbivores?

Yes, hippos are predominantly herbivorous. They feed almost exclusively on grasses—specifically short, soft types found near riverbanks and floodplains.

Fun Fact: An adult hippo can consume up to 80–100 pounds (35–45 kg) of grass in a single night!

Feeding Habits: Night Grazers

Hippos graze at night. As the sun sets, they leave the water and travel up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) in search of food. Their daily pattern looks something like this:

• Daytime: Resting in water to stay cool

• Evening: Walk to grazing areas

• Nighttime: Eat grass for 4–6 hours

• Morning: Return to rivers or lakes before sunrise

Did You Know? Hippos do not eat aquatic plants, even though they live in water most of the time.

Digestive System: Built for Fiber

Hippos are foregut fermenters, similar to cows. This means they have a multi-chambered stomach that breaks down cellulose-rich plants through bacterial fermentation.

However, unlike ruminants, they do not regurgitate their food for re-chewing (no “cud-chewing” like cows).

Rare Omnivorous Behavior

While hippos are not true omnivores, there are documented cases of hippos:

• Scavenging animal carcasses

• Eating meat or even cannibalizing other hippos (extremely rare)

These behaviors typically occur under severe stress, malnutrition, or territorial conflict, and are considered anomalies—not typical dietary behavior.

Clarification: Hippos do not hunt or actively seek out meat.

What Do Pygmy Hippos Eat?

Pygmy hippos (Choeropsis liberiensis), a rarer forest-dwelling species, have a slightly different diet:

• Leaves

• Roots

• Fruits

• Ferns

Unlike their larger relatives, they forage in dense forests and may consume a wider variety of plant material.

Quick Reference Table: Hippo Diet Summary

Wrap-Up: What Should You Remember?

• Hippos are grass-eating herbivores

• They feed exclusively at night

• Meat-eating behavior is rare and abnormal

• Their diet plays a key role in landscape ecology

• Pygmy hippos have a slightly more varied plant-based diet

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast or a curious student, understanding what hippos eat sheds light on one of the most misunderstood giants of the animal kingdom.

animal tags： hippos