T<\/span>he common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) has a barrel-shaped torso, short legs, a broad head, long snout, and enlarged canines and incisors that are especially prominent in males. The eyes, ears, and nostrils at the top of its head allow the hippo to breath and monitor its environment while most of its body is underwater. The hippos\u2019 smooth, almost hairless hide is brown to grey-purple with pink underparts, and is populated with glands that secrete a reddish, antiseptic fluid that also protects the skin from drying and sunburn.<\/p>\n Though \u201chippopotamus\u201d is ancient Greek for \u201criver horse,\u201d the animal was once thought to have a common ancestry with pigs. More recent studies indicate that its closest living relatives are whales and dolphins.<\/p>\n The hippo is third largest land mammal after elephants and white rhinos. Males, which grow throughout their lifetimes, can measure 3.5 metres from head to base of tail and weigh more than 2000 kilogrammes. Females are smaller.<\/p>\n<\/div>