![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250011/gallery_1.960_0_1.jpg)
Mudiswetdirt.Mudissticky.Mudisslimy.Mudisuseful,too.Clickthearrowstosee differentwaysanimalsuse mud.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250012/NGX0419_YE_POS2.960_0_1.jpg)
Rhinoceroseswallowinmudtocooldown.
Themudalsocoatstheirskinandactslike sunscreen.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250013/NGX0419_YE_POS3.960_0_1.jpg)
Swallowtailbutterflieslandonpuddlesofmud.Theydrinkthewatertogetmineralsthataregoodfor them.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250014/NGX0419_YE_POS4.960_0_1.jpg)
Cliffswallowsbuildnestsoutofsmallballsof mud.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250015/NGX0419_YE_POS5.960_0_1.jpg)
Somecrabsburrow,ordigahole,inmud.Theyliveorhideinthe hole.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250016/NGX0419_YE_POS6.960_0_1.jpg)
Sandhillcranesusetheirbeaksto“paint”theirfeatherswithmud.Ithelpsthemblendinwithbrown grasses.
![](/nationalgeographic/voyager_april_2019/making_use_of_mud/250017/crane.320_0_1.png)
without mud
with mud