Why do hippos spend most their time in water?

Answer 1

Hippos spend most of their time in water to regulate their body temperature and protect their sensitive skin from the sun. Their skin secretes a natural sunscreen-like substance that helps keep it moist and protected. Additionally, being in water helps support their massive bodies, reducing the strain on their joints and allowing them to move more easily.

Answer 2

Hippos live in water because they have evolved to do so. Water supports their great mass more comfortably than when they are on land. They can hide under the water, with only their nostrils in the air. Being in water protects their skin from getting too dry. And they eat plants that grow in water.

Here's an African American fable that tries to offer an explanation for those with no scientific background.

Why the Hippopotamus Lives in the Water

The tortoise uses a clever trick to uncover the hippo's secret name.

Many years ago, the hippopotamus, whose name was Isantim, was one of the biggest kings on the land-only the elephant was bigger. This hippo had seven fat wives, of whom he was very fond, and they went everywhere together. Now and then he used to give a big feast for the people, but though everyone knew the hippo, no one, except his seven wives, knew his real name.

At one of the feasts, just as the people were about to sit down, the hippo said, "You have come to feed at my table, but none of you know my name. If no one can guess my name, you shall all go away without your dinner."

After some time, as no one could guess his name, they reluctantly prepared to leave. But before doing so, the tortoise stood up and asked the hippopotamus what would happen if he told him his name at the next feast?

The hippo replied that if the tortoise discovered his name, he and his whole family would leave the land, and for the future would dwell in the water.

Now, the tortoise knew that it was the custom for the hippo and his wives to go every morning and evening to the river to wash and have a drink. The hippo used to walk at the head of the line, and his seven wives followed behind. One day, when they had gone down to the river to bathe, the tortoise dug a small hole in the middle of the path, and then hid himself behind a nearby bush and waited.

When the hippo and his wives returned, two of the wives were some distance behind the others, so the tortoise came out from where he had been hiding, and crawled into the hole he had dug, leaving the greater part of his shell exposed. When the two hippo wives came along, the first one knocked her foot against the tortoise's shell, and immediately called out to her husband, "Oh! Isantim, my husband, I have hurt my foot." As you can imagine, hearing this made the tortoise very glad! As soon as all of the hippos were out of sight, the happy tortoise went home.

At the next feast the hippo reminded his guests that they could not eat unless someone knew his name. The tortoise got up and said, "You promise you will not be angry if I tell you your name?" The hippo promised. The tortoise then shouted as loud as he was able, "Your name is Isantim!" When the hippo admitted that this was his name, a cheer went up from all the people, and they sat down to dinner.

When the feast was over, the hippo and his seven wives, in accordance with his promise, went down to the river, and they have lived in the water from that day till now. And although they come ashore to feed at night, you never can find a hippo on the land in the daytime.

Answer 3

Kinda-sorta.

Hippos spend most of the day in water. It helps them control body temperature, protect them against predators, biting insects and sunburn, and take some weight off their feet and legs.

But they don't eat much in water, and generally go on land during night to graze.

Answer

Much of the time: Yes. It is referred to as 'semi-aquatic'.

Its name from Greek, means "river-horse". They just love the water and use it during the heat of the day to remain cool.

Nevertheless, they are really classified as "land animals" and feed on grass some kilometres away from water late in the day and also bed out of the water at night.

Answer

edit; --- In fact the Hippo's ancestors were one of the few who, having left the oceans during evolution, returned to become the whale we all know and love. The bones representative of the legs of the Hippo are still found in whales. Considering this, it would seem we may draw the conclusion that some Hippos prefer water to land.

Answer 4

In the day, it is really hot in Africa. If they spent to much time on land, then their skin or hide would dry out. That's why hippos spend so many time in the water. Mostly at night it comes on to land. The hippo is currently nocturnal, which means they are most active at night.

In addition the water provides a great deal of buoyancy so the animal does not have to support its huge weight when it is in water.

Answer 5

Hippos live in shallow water, so they won't be submerged too deep. The reason is that hippos can't swim; they are too heavy. They simply grab air at the surface every so often. They graze outside the river at night.

Answer 6

They remain in the water just to keep cool and out of the hot sun. They can suffer from sun burn. They leave the water in the late afternoon to feed

Answer 7

They don't have much choice in the matter. Living with good access to water is what they have adapted to do, and that's what they need to do to stay healthy and comfortable.