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   Fresh water is essential to life on Earth. All land-dwelling creatures need fresh water to survive. Freshwater animals depend on clean water to survive, and The Nature Conservancy works to protect the planet's freshwater resources, and the freshwater animals that depend upon them

A large, mostly plant-eating mammal, the hippopotamus is found in rivers and lakes throughoutAfrica. The hippo is semiaquatic and thought to be more closely related to whales than to other hoofed animals. Adults can measure up to 11 feet long, stand 5 feet tall and weigh up to 1.5 tons. It has been known to live up to 45 years in the wild.

The hippopotamus is characterized by its stout body, stubby legs and large, bulbous head. The head features jaws that open up to 150 degrees with long tusk-like teeth and a wide nose covered in sensitive bristles. The placement of ears, eyes and nostrils on the top of the skull allows it to stay nearly submerged in water all day, yet breathe easily and remain receptive to its surroundings. At night, the hippopotamus moves inland to graze on short grasslands. Despite their considerable bulk, hippopotamuses are graceful underwater swimmers