Hippopotamus
A hippopotamus is a large, mostly aquatic mammal native to Africa, spending much of its time in rivers and lakes.
How big is it?
3.5 m long
Also 11.48 ft
Length · defined specimen
A little perspective
About the same scale as Gaia spacecraft.
Gaia spacecraft: Gaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Hippopotamus
A chosen 3.5 m, 1,500 kg adult hippopotamus.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Gaia spacecraft
ESA’s Gaia observatory was approximately 3.5 m high and had a launch mass near 2,030 kg. Its deployed circular sunshield defines a much larger transverse span.
The marked approximate observatory height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
Why this measurement?
Why we use 3.5 m
For comparison, this page uses length. This is labelled defined specimen: an explicit comparison model rather than a claim that every example has the same value.
A chosen 3.5 m, 1,500 kg adult hippopotamus.
The marked horizontal span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Hippopotamus dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 m | Not recorded | defined specimen | |
| 1.5 t | Not recorded | defined specimen |
Around this scale
Go smaller. Go bigger.
These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.
Nearest lower value · Living thingsAfrican elephant3.3 mAn African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
Around the same scale · SpaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
Nearest higher value · Living thingsWhite rhinoceros3.8 mA white rhinoceros is a large African herbivore with two horns on its snout and a broad mouth for grazing.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
More ways to see it
Curated comparisons
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
PeopleHuman1.75 mA human is a primate of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished by habitual upright walking, language and complex tool use.Living thingsAfrican elephant3.3 mAn African elephant is a large plant-eating mammal recognised by its trunk, tusks and broad ears.
Living thingsBlue whale25 mA blue whale is a baleen whale that feeds by filtering small animals from seawater.SpaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.
TransportApollo command module3.23 mThe Apollo command module was the conical spacecraft section that housed astronauts during NASA's Apollo lunar missions and re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
SportTable tennis table2.74 mA table tennis table is a flat, rectangular surface divided by a net for playing the game of table tennis.
Everyday things3 × 4 m bedroom4 mA bedroom is a private room in a home intended for sleeping and personal use.