They also found that when they run at top speed, they lift all four of their feet off the ground at the same time at certain points in their gait—this happens 15% of the time while running.

If a hippo feels threatened, it won’t hesitate to defend itself with shocking speed and force. On land, a hippo can easily outrun a human — and in the water, they are nearly unstoppable.

Hippos can get airborne when moving at high speeds over land, according to a new study. This is the first time that the animals, which can weigh more than 2,000 kilograms (2.2 tons) and spend much ...