The hippopotamus has skin that's thinner than other animals' skin. This means moisture is lost very easily. If a hippopotamus didn't keep itself wet, its body would dry out, and then it would die. The hippopotamus stays under the water's surface all day to stay wet. Its eyes, nose and ears are near the top of its head so it can stay almost completely underwater. Since the skin of the hippopotamus is extremely thin, moisture is easily lost, so it stays under water all day. Otherwise it would suffer from dehydration. The nostrils and ears of the hippopotamus can be closed so that water does not enter when the animal submerges. The hippopotamus moves with great agility in the water and can submerge to depths of more than 35 feet (11 m). It can stay down for periods of five minutes or more.
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