Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray, 1846
Blackfish
Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
, T Orrell (custodian) in 
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General Description
Skin resists microorganisms: pilot whale
Source and Additional Information
The skin of pilot whales resists microorganisms thanks to microscopic pores and nanoridges, surrounded by a secreted enzymatic gel which denatures proteins and carbohydrates.
"Christoph Baums and a team from the Hanover School of Veterinary Medicine in Germany have discovered that a pilot whale's skin has a specialised nano-structure that stops the build-up of microscopic organisms such as barnacle larvae. They plan to mimic the idea in an anti-fouling paint. Baums and his team examined freeze-dried samples of pilot whale skin under a cryo-scanning electron microscope. They discovered a surface made up of tiny pores 0.1 micrometres across surrounded by raised 'nanoridges'. In between the ridges is a rubber-like gel containing enzymes that denature proteins and carbohydrates. The gel, which oozes out of the gaps between skin cells, is replenished as the whale sheds its skin. Baums thinks that organisms such as bacteria and diatoms have trouble sticking to the ridge edges, which provide little purchase. And if they try hanging onto the gel the enzymes will attack them. Without these pioneers, larger creatures such as crustacean or mollusc larvae have a hard time colonising the whale's skin. The group intends to patent a version of the pilot whale's skin as a more eco-friendly alternative to existing anti-fouling paints. To copy the skin, Baums plans on using a variety of biodegradable materials." (Courtesy of the Biomimicry Guild)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
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Description
Source and Additional Information
The short-finned pilot whale is one of two species of the genus Globicephala living in North American waters, mostly in tropical to temperate waters of the continental shelf. "Globicephala" translates directly to the most prominent characteristic of the genus, its round head. Short-finned pilot whales travel in coordinated pods of about 25 individuals. These may be groups of closely related females of all ages and their offspring, plus one or a few adult males. In tropical waters, pods may join together to form large herds, and are sometimes seen "logging," a behavior in which they all face the same direction and bob like floating logs. Presumably they are resting. Males reach reproductive age at 13 and females at about 8 years. The average life span is about 45 years for males and 55 years for females. One unexplained phenomenon is that groups of these whales sometimes come ashore, strand, and die. Such strandings are relatively common on beaches in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico
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Mammal Species of the World
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
References
- Gray, J. E., 1846. On the cetaceous animals. Pp. 13-53, in The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, under the command of Capt. Sir J. C. Ross, R. N., F. R. S., during the years 1839 to 1843 (Sir J. Richardson and J. E. Gray, eds.) [1844-1875], 1:33. E. W. Janson, London, 2 vols.
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"Globicephala macrorhynchus Gray, 1846". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/328533". Accessed
19 Mar 2010.
