Hippopotamus amphibius

Linnaeus, 1758

Common Hippopotamus

Group resting in shallow water
1 / 7
Location:South Africa, Kwazulu-Natal, Ndumu Game ReserveDate taken:Jan 1, 1976Description : Group resting in shallow water

Distribution :

Rivers of savanna zone of Africa, and main rivers of forest zone in C Africa, in Angola, Benin, N Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, S Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Dem. Rep. Congo, Egypt (extinct; formerly along Nile to its Delta), N Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea (Mbini), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia (only 2 records), Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia (Caprivi Strip, Okavango River), Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, South Africa (now only in N and E Limpopo Prov. and E Mpumalanga Prov., and N KwaZulu-Natal), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Image courtesy of the ASM Mammal Images Library · MIL ID: 198

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Artiodactyla
Suborder : Ancodonta
Family : Hippopotamidae
Subfamily : Hippopotaminae
Genus : Hippopotamus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033885

Original name as described

Hippopotamus amphibius

Type locality

type locality restricted to River Nile in Africa.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Senegal · Gambia · Guinea-Bissau · Guinea · Mali · Sierra Leone · Cote d'Ivoire · Burkina Faso · Ghana · Togo · Benin · Nigeria · Niger · Cameroon · Chad · Central African Republic · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Republic of the Congo · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Sudan · South Sudan · Ethiopia · Somalia · Kenya · Uganda · Rwanda · Burundi · Tanzania · Angola · Zambia · Malawi · Mozambique · Namibia · Botswana · Zimbabwe · South Africa · Eswatini

IUCN Red List status

Vulnerable

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006390

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details.

Total: 26 names and synonyms.

Hippopotamus amphibius

Linnaeus, 1758

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

amphibius

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

74

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033885

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Linnaeus (1758:74, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033885) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57429)
  2. Linnaeus (1766:101, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946297) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38438)
  3. Boddaert (1772:88, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43563460) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67754)
  4. Erxleben (1777:195, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15872992) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  5. Leske (1779:190) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69307)
  6. Borowski (1780:55, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28347189) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67759)
  7. Gmelin (1788:214, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25751434) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35943)
  8. Kerr (1792:347, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664375) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36283)
  9. Link (1795:108, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46272984) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35635)
  10. Shaw (1801:442, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19633032) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37621)
  11. Bechstein (1801:189, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30309294) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60397)
  12. Daudin (1802:177, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033427) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  13. Turton (1802:124, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25772980) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69249)
  14. Treviranus (1802:218, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11026084) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/72409)
  15. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1803:236) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/19153)
  16. Thunberg (1811:321, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767815) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64194)
  17. Fischer (1813:445, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29109556) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/49925)
  18. Fischer (1814:xiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130074) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  19. Illiger (1815:77, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11080933) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38688)
  20. Voigt (1819:422, https://books.google.com/books?id=HJhQ5QmNDEkC&pg=PA422) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69477)
  21. Muirhead (1819:450) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69481)
  22. Hemprich (1820:43) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69417)
  23. Gray (1821:306) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9308)
  24. Schinz (1821:349, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51529110) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37604)
  25. Desmarest (1822:387, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39521831) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36189)
  26. Lesson (1827:341, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207808) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  27. Fischer (1829:425) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  28. Eichwald (1831:356, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35753021) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67585)
  29. Smuts (1832:58, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43088695) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60235)
  30. Jardine (1836:154, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18064412) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39772)
  31. Smith (1838:pl. 6, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51577719) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67639)
  32. Blyth (1840:130, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49918344) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67419)
  33. Gistel (1848:271, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25781156) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69572)
  34. Peters (1852:180) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/61421)
  35. Leidy (1853:207, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35731110) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69350)
  36. Murray (1866:337, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15580333) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39798)
  37. Jerdon (1867:245, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37300094) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68353)
  38. Milne-Edwards (1868:1165, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3667283) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67290)
  39. Grandidier (1868:375, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29123936) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67293)
  40. Gray (1869:356, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8397275) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37331)
  41. Sclater (1872:82, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/17037859) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/61617)
  42. Peters (1876:485, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35329870) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17187)
  43. Heuglin (1877:96, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36876469) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/66584)
  44. Noack (1887:197, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10356237) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67855)
  45. Bocage (1890:29, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39321568) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68678)
  46. Matschie (1895:98, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835491) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)
  47. Haeckel (1895:555, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3166819) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65522)
  48. Wroughton (1907:33, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34063339) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68769)
  49. Lydekker (1908:403, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741623) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  50. Ward (1910:450, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016093) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  51. Berger (1910:346, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43615797) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67836)
  52. Roberts (1913:104, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439562) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  53. Schwarz (1914:31, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18640790) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/19408)
  54. Schwarz (1920:871, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44763842) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39012)
  55. Flower (1932:443) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/14201)
  56. Shortridge (1934:643) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69310)
  57. Allen (1939:457, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782354) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
  58. Hill & Carter (1941:150) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16955)
  59. Shortridge (1942:67, 98, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40888984, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889015) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  60. Shortridge (1942:98) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  61. Deraniyagala (1947:229) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60545)
  62. Setzer (1956:571, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7489177) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5501)
  63. Kurtén (1968:156) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5363)
  64. Osborn & Helmy (1980:477, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2747706) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5405)
  65. Corbet & Hill (1980:117) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  66. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:317) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  67. Gèze (1985:91) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69737)
  68. Corbet & Hill (1991:126) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63070)
  69. Grubb (1993:381) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69016)
  70. Yalden, Largen, Kock & Hillman (1996:108) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36072)
  71. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  72. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:573) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  73. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:318) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  74. Groves & Grubb (2011:54) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/30388)
  75. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #10103) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  76. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #10103) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  77. Faith, Rowan, O'Brien, Blegen & Peppe (2020:5) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/50713)
  78. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006390) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  79. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10103/18567364) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Hippopothamus Amphibius

Boddaert, 1785

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

amphibius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

165

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28230129

Authority publication

Rotterdam

Name usages

Boddaert (1785:165, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28230129) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35384)

Hippopotamus africanus

de Lacépède, 1799

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

africanus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

12

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lacépède (1799:12) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/62452)
  2. Fischer (1803:136, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47061743) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69311)
  3. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Hippopotamus capensis

Desmoulins, 1825

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

220

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32225158

Authority publication

Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

  1. Burnett (1830:352, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3909462) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/44017)
  2. Smith (1842:271) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  3. Lesson (1842:158) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Blainville (1847:233, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57986554) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37129)
  5. Leidy (1853:208, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35731111) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69350)
  6. Blyth (1863:142, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534823) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)

Hippopotamus senegalensis

Desmoulins, 1825

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

223

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32225161

Authority publication

Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:342, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207809) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Burnett (1830:352, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3909462) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/44017)
  3. Smith (1842:271) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  4. Lesson (1842:158) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  5. Blainville (1847:233, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57986554) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37129)
  6. Rochebrune (1883:151, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26187604) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/43667)
  7. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Hippopotamus amphibius Capensis

J. B. Fischer, 1829

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

426

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

  1. Fischer (1829:426) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  2. Shortridge (1934:643) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69310)
  3. Allen (1939:457, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2782354) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/5450)
  4. Hill & Carter (1941:150) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16955)
  5. Shortridge (1942:67, 98, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40888984, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40889015) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  6. Shortridge (1942:98) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/48770)
  7. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)
  8. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:318) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)

Hippopotamus amphibius Senegalensis

J. B. Fischer, 1829

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

426

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

  1. Fischer (1829:426) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  2. Lydekker (1908:405, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741625) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Hippopotamus Abyssinicus

Lesson, 1842

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

abyssinicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

158

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:158) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Hippopotamus australis

Duvernoy, 1846

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

australis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

650

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2806347

Authority publication

Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences

Name usages

  1. Blainville (1847:233, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57986554) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37129)
  2. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

Hippopotamus typus

Duvernoy, 1846

Family

Hippopotamidae

Root name

typus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

333

Authority publication

Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences

Name usages

  1. Blainville (1847:233, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57986554) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37129)
  2. Grubb (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8535)

16 more names and synonyms available — use the desktop version to see them all.

Please send any edits, corrections, or unfilled data (including full citations) to mammaldiversity [at] gmail [dot] com.