Do hippos produce red sweat?
The hippopotamus (river horse) used to puzzle the ancient Greeks by seemingly sweating blood. In turns out that this myth is nearly correct - while hippos don’t sweat blood, their sweat IS red.
According to recent research by Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, this substance produced from glands all over it's skin actually acts as sunscreen for hippos. Hippos are required to consume an abundance of vegetation to be provided with the nutrients they need. In order to gather this vegetation they must venture into the searing heat of the African sun, which they need protection from. However, usual options such as fur aren't practical as hippos spend the majority of their time submerged in water.
Instead, Hippos produce an anti UV secretion which helps to both protect and moisturize their bodies. This contains two pigments which both act as sunblocks- one red, called hipposudoric acid; and the other orange, called nor hipposudoric acid.
It is these pigments that make a hippos sweat red.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3749351.stm
According to recent research by Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, this substance produced from glands all over it's skin actually acts as sunscreen for hippos. Hippos are required to consume an abundance of vegetation to be provided with the nutrients they need. In order to gather this vegetation they must venture into the searing heat of the African sun, which they need protection from. However, usual options such as fur aren't practical as hippos spend the majority of their time submerged in water.
Instead, Hippos produce an anti UV secretion which helps to both protect and moisturize their bodies. This contains two pigments which both act as sunblocks- one red, called hipposudoric acid; and the other orange, called nor hipposudoric acid.
It is these pigments that make a hippos sweat red.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3749351.stm