The Therapeutic Skin-Care Routine of Dolphins
Red Sea dolphins slather their skin in coral mucus (because nature is wonderfully gross.) Young dolphins seem to learn this skin care routine from their elders as the coral mucus contains bioactive compounds that may prevent and treat skin infections.
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00:00 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins practice a very thorough skin care routine,
00:05 which involves a lot of coral mucus.
00:08 These dolphins live in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt,
00:13 and rub their bodies against certain types of corals and sponges.
00:18 Scientists first observed this rubbing behavior about 13 years ago,
00:22 after divers had already seen it anecdotally.
00:27 At the time, scientists didn't know why the dolphins shimmied against the corals in this way,
00:31 but they suspected that the behavior might have medicinal benefits.
00:35 Now, in a new study, these researchers have identified 17 bioactive compounds
00:41 that the dolphins' preferred corals and sponges produce.
00:44 These compounds include antibacterial substances and antioxidants,
00:49 as well as hormone-like compounds that might help maintain skin hydration and elasticity.
00:55 Plus, some of the corals produce small amounts of toxic compounds
00:59 that may help to kill parasites on the skin's surface.
01:02 By regularly coating their silver-gray bodies in these compounds,
01:06 the dolphins may prevent and treat skin infection,
01:09 as well as generally maintain their skin microbiomes,
01:12 or the community of microorganisms that live on their flesh.
01:16 These are the first officially reported observations of a dolphin species self-medicating in this way.
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