Huge and Hairless: Weighing in at 4.5 tons the hippopotamus is one of the largest quadrupeds on earth. Its body is thick and the skin is bluish-black with brick-red markings. Except for a few sparse hairs along its thin tail, the hippo is nearly hairless.
Aquatic Adaptations: The feet are hoofed with membranes stretching between each of its four toes, enabling the hippo to move in water. The fat beneath the skin also is an adaptation to its watery environment, making this large animal buoyant enough to easily float along streams and swamps.
Natural Bug Repellant: The hippopotamus possesses modified sweat glands that secrete a reddish, moist substance that makes an excellent sunblock and provides protection against insect bites, particularly mosquitoes, which are the nemesis of all pachyderms.
