News Animals

These dolphins may turn to corals for skin care

Substances in the corals may help the mammals maintain healthy skin or treat infections

underwater image of an Indo-Pacific bottlenosed dolphin rubbing on coral on the seafloor

An Indo-Pacific bottlenosed dolphin rubs itself on gorgonian corals. A new study suggests the dolphins may behave in this intriguing way to keep their skin healthy thanks to substances within the corals.

A. Ziltener/Dolphin Watch Alliance

By Erin Garcia de Jesús

On her deep-sea dives, wildlife biologist Angela Ziltener of the University of Zurich often noticed Indo-Pacific bottlenosed dolphins doing something intriguing.