Evidence that Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins self-medicate with invertebrates in coral reefs.

ABSTRACT: Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) have been observed queueing up in natural environments to rub particular body parts against selected corals (Rumphella aggregata, Sarcophyton sp.) and sponges (Ircinia sp.) in the Egyptian Northern Red Sea. It was hypothesized that the presence of bioactive metabolites accounts for this selective rubbing behavior. The three invertebrates preferentially accessed by the dolphins, collected and analyzed by hyphenated high-performance thin-layer chromatography contained seventeen active metabolites, providing evidence of potential self-medication. Repeated rubbing allows these active metabolites to come into contact with the skin of the dolphins, which in turn could help them achieve skin homeostasis and be useful for pro

SUBMITTER: Morlock GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9236899 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature