Why do water buffalo frequently wallow in water or mud during the day?
Answer
They possess relatively few sweat glands for effective perspiration cooling.
The need for water buffalo to spend significant time submerged or wallowing stems directly from a physiological limitation related to their skin. Unlike many other large mammals that rely heavily on the evaporative cooling provided by numerous sweat glands across their skin surface, water buffalo possess relatively few of these glands. This deficiency means they cannot effectively cool their body temperature through perspiration alone, especially when dealing with the intense heat of tropical climates. Consequently, immersion in water or mud becomes a non-negotiable survival strategy, allowing external cooling agents to regulate their core temperature.
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