Video · 0:57
Why do hippos spend all day in water?
Hippos spend their days in the river to stay cool under the hot African sun. Because they cannot sweat, the hot air can easily dry and crack their delicate skin. The deep water also helps support their heavy, four-ton bodies so they can bounce weightlessly along the bottom.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key facts
- Hippos cannot sweat to cool themselves down.
- A hippo produces a special pink oil that acts as a natural sunscreen and keeps germs away.
- A hippo's body can weigh as much as four tons.
- Water holds up their heavy bodies, allowing them to bounce softly along the sandy bottom like astronauts.
Questions people also ask
Can hippos sweat?
No, hippos cannot sweat to cool off. Instead, they make a special pink oil that acts as a natural sunscreen and keeps germs away.
Why is the sun dangerous for a hippo's skin?
Even though a hippo looks tough, its skin is very delicate. The hot air can quickly dry and crack it.
How does water help a hippo move?
Deep water helps hold up a hippo's four-ton body so it feels light. This allows the animal to bounce softly along the sandy river bottom.
What the video says
Why do hippos spend all day in the water? The hot African sun beats down on them. A giant hippo needs a cool river.
It sinks in until only its eyes and twitching ears peek out. The hippo looks tough. But its skin is actually very delicate.
Hippos cannot sweat to cool off. The hot air can quickly dry and crack their skin. So, the hippo makes a special pink oil.
This pink liquid is a natural sunscreen. It keeps germs away. The deep water also helps hold up its heavy, four-ton body.
Down here, the giant hippo feels light. It bounces softly along the sandy bottom. It looks just like an astronaut walking in space!
