There��s nothing quite as enjoyable as having a day out in the fresh air and sunshine, but if you��re not careful, it can come at a cost�Xsunburn. You might be surprised to learn that it isn��t only humans who get sunburned, though; this is a problem that exists throughout the animal kingdom.
Most animals have fur, feathers, or scales to protect themselves from the harmful rays of the sun; however, hairless animals such as elephants, hippos, and pigs are particularly at risk of sunburn. It��s no surprise, then, that many of these animals have developed their own adaptations to protect their skin.
Pigs, for example, like to roll in the mud. This behavior isn��t a dirty habit; rather, the coating of mud keeps them cool in hot weather and prevents damage from strong sunlight. Similarly, elephants throw sand on their backs and heads for use as a kind of natural sunblock. Hippos, on the other hand, have developed a physical adaptation�Xthey produce a red-colored substance around their eyes and ears which acts as a natural sunscreen by absorbing ultraviolet light.
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