1. True buffaloes live across Africa and Asia! While many people in North America call hairy prairie animals "buffalo," those are actually bison. Real, true buffaloes live on completely different continents—the African cape water buffalo and the Asian water buffalo!

2. Asian water buffalo love to wear mud coats. Water buffaloes spend hours lounging in muddy rivers and swamps. The mud coats their skin like sunscreen to block out the hot tropical sun and keep pesky biting insects away!

3. They are surprisingly fast swimmers. Even though they are bulky and heavy, water buffaloes are fantastic swimmers. They can paddle across deep rivers and lakes with ease, often keeping just their noses and eyes poking above the water line.

4. They have built-in splash guards on their noses. When water buffaloes dip their heads underwater to graze on tasty water plants, special nose flaps automatically snap shut so they don't accidentally inhale a gulp of muddy water!

5. Water buffalo milk makes delicious mozzarella cheese. In countries like Italy and India, milk from domestic water buffalo is used to make traditional, creamy mozzarella cheese. Buffalo milk actually has more fat and protein than cow's milk, making it extra rich!

6. They can weigh as much as a small truck. A full-grown male African buffalo can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kg)—that is heavy enough to pull a loaded farm wagon or push through thick jungle brush like a tank.

7. They have best friends in the herd. Buffaloes are very social animals that live in big groups called herds. They show affection by grooming each other, resting side-by-side, and even choosing specific best friends to hang out with every day.