Borrowing from French balustrade, from Italian balaustrata â(â with balusters â), from balaustro â(â baluster â), from balausta â(â wild pomegranate flower â), via Latin balaustium, from Ancient Greek Î²Î±Î»Î±ÏÏÏÎ¹Î¿Î½ â(balaustion), balaÃºstion From (semitic Compare. â(aramaic, â balatz wild pomegranate â)). flower
Hippos are very rotund animals and are the third largest living land mammals, after elephants and white rhinos, according to Animal Planet. They grow to 10.8 to 16.5 feet (3.3 to 5 meters) long and up to 5.2 feet (1.6 m) tall from hooves to shoulders. The tail adds another 13.75 to 19.75 inches (35 to 50 centimeters) to its length. The average female weighs around 3,000 lbs. (1,400 kilograms) while males weigh 3,500 to 9,920 lbs. (1,600 to 4,500 kg) according to the San Diego Zoo.
An adult male typically ranges in size from 14 to 22 inches long with a weight of 60 to 120 grams. The appreciably larger female may reach 20 to 33 inches in length and 150 to more than 350 grams in weight (or even larger). The heavy, stout body is covered with keeled scales.