Humpback Skin Care Routine: Whales Roll on Ocean Floor To Exfoliate, Reduce Infection From Bacteria

A skincare routine is necessary for many to look young and revitalized. Whales also have their version, and it's essential for them too.

Humpback 'Whale Spa' Skincare Routine

It has always been challenging to study what whales do below, but modern geolocation and video technology have made it possible to catch brief glimpses of underwater activity and bring them to light. Humpback whales exfoliating themselves on the shallow ocean floor are only one example of what the experts have witnessed, which may be surprising and wonderful.

According to Jan-Olaf Meynecke, who detailed the behavior in a recent study published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, there was no aim to photograph whales rolling in the sand. The finest aspect of science is that you are never quite sure what you want.

The new finding demonstrates how the creative use of finer-grained sensors can deepen our understanding of secretive marine organisms. Behaviors earlier concealed from view, such as the humpbacks' "sand rolling," may help create a more detailed picture of their health needs and social life. This information may also be helpful in legislative discussions regarding the preservation of offshore habitats.

The waters are teeming with parasites and microorganisms, as well as larger hitchhikers like barnacles and remora suckerfish that travel with whales.

Meynecke added that one of the biggest problems for the whales is the need for constant shedding to reduce bacterial and viral infection. As whales move between cooler and warmer waters, their tendency to shed skin increases. Therefore, humpback whales may deliberately quicken that exfoliation process by rolling in the sand.

However, according to Meynecke, it might also aid in removing baby barnacles from difficult-to-reach skin fissures in the head region. The whales were "slowly moving forward with their heads first into the sand followed by rolling to one side or a full roll" when the sand rolls were recorded on video.

One explanation for whale breaches is that they attempt to remove extra barnacles from the surface as they touch down. Meynecke suggests that rolling sand might be another option.

He added that based on his experience, whales do not want those barnacles on them. When it comes to the dynamics, they are a burden as they slow down the whales' speed when they swim due to their weight.

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Baby Elephant Uses Mud as Sunscreen

Just like humans and whales, elephants have their skincare routine too. A baby desert elephant in Namibia was caught on camera covering its body with mud to shield itself from intense heat.

National Geographic filmed a documentary titled "Secrets of the Elephants," narrated by actress Natalie Portman. Based on the narration in the video, the rain is a welcome relief for the calf and her family. She temporarily appears confused at first by the mud. When she is older, the calf will remember the place and how a thick coating of mud acts as desert sunscreen.

Paula Kahumbu, a specialist on elephants and National Geographic Explorer, said elephants are amazing and flexible. She also learned from the program that elephants in Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou National Park use trunks to help them descend rocks.