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<...>Interestingly, the German for Hippo is Seekuh - (Sea Cow)

Remember, the Dutch came prepared <...>

Billyf asked
<...>one theory is that Meerkat is simply the Afrikaans for Mongoose. The other theory is that the early Dutch settlers used the phrase "meer kat as hond" which was shortened to Meerkat<...>

<...>"Meerkat" is the generic Afrikaans name for mongoose, and although the Dutch word suggests to be a combination of meer (lake) and kat (cat), this is incorrect. Another - false - assumption is that it is derived from the Afrikaans phrase "meer kat as hond" which translates to "more cat than dog", allegedly the description of mongooses by the early Dutch settlers. Over time the name has come to be associated with the species suricate (Suricata suricatta).

In fact, the original meaning of the (Dutch) word "meerkat" is "monkey", and it is related to Old High German "mericazza".
Thinking along the lines of folk-etymology, the most likely origin is a (recorded in writing) mispronunciation/misspelling of "markat" (Hindi) and/or "markata" (Sanskrit). This in spite of the word being used in Germanic long before any known direct contact with India. The earliest known reference of "meerkat" is dated as far back as the late 15th century, and so also well before the Dutch set foot on African shores.

For comparison: the Dutch name for Vervet monkey is Groene meerkat (Green Monkey).

Must say, I've always liked the "meer kat as hond" version of the tale.

The German word for Hippopotamus is Flusspferd (= river horse) or also Nilpferd or Grossflusspferd. Compare Dutch Nijlpaard = Nilpferd = Nile horse.

Seacows (also called Sirenians) are an entirely different species, related to Dujongs and Manatees.