Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus, or hippo for short, is a large, mostly herbivorous, semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. Although not generally endemic throughout North Africa, they inhabit the entire course of the Nile and thus can be found as far north as the Nile Delta in Egypt.
They are aggressive animals prone to ferocious attacks against humans, even violently assaulting the boats of fishermen. On the other hand, they were also prized as food for the Egyptians during the Ptolemaic dynasty. Considered a rare delicacy, hippopotamus meat was alternatively known as "lake cow bacon". For one reason or another, hippos were fond of balls.[1]
Due to their size and nature, the hippopotami were considered divine by the ancient Egyptians, and this reverence manifested as Taweret, the protective hippo goddess.[2]