The red liquid that tints a hippo's skin is not blood but a protective substance from specialized secretory glands.
When first released from a hippo's skin, the secretion looks like slightly viscous clear water.
As it oxidizes in air, it gradually turns orange, then red, and finally brown. Over time it spreads across the skin.
Keepers describe the secretion on a hippo's skin as having a texture similar to sunscreen applied by a person.
The secretion performs multiple functions, including skin protection, antibacterial action, insect repellence, and UV blocking, and it plays an important role in protecting the hippo's thin skin, which is vulnerable to sunlight and external irritation.
A hippo's skin has a very thick dermis, while the outer epidermis is extremely thin and easily damaged.
Because of this skin structure, hippos evolved into semi-aquatic animals that spend most of their time in water to avoid damage from strong sunlight and UV rays. When on land, the secretion helps protect the skin.
Answers come from the transcript, with the exact spot cited.
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