Dolphin Tales: Dolphin skin
Researching ‘dolphin skin’ on the web produced over 41 million results. The top results had nothing to do with the marine mammal. It was in reference to dewy, glassy-looking skin. ‘Dolphin skin’, apparently, is a term coined by celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips. It is the new rage in skin-care and makeup.
Our beloved dolphins do have dewy, glassy-looking skin but mainly created for gliding through our Southwest Florida waters with very little resistance. Hydrodynamics are extremely important in the dolphin world. Their skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The surface layer, or epidermis, is 10 times thicker than any land mammal and serves as protection against the elements. It’s actually 15 to 20 times thicker than the human epidermis.
That dewy, glassy-looking dolphin skin that is so coveted in the human world is also made possible because dolphins shed their outer layer of skin every two hours. To the touch, their skin is smooth and feels rubbery. They have no hair or sweat glands. Their skin constantly flakes and peels as new skin cells replace old cells. This is one of the reasons dolphins voluntarily ride in the wake of our boats. It helps them exfoliate the dead skin.
Another feature of dolphin that is cute and coveted is their act of ‘blushing.’ Have you seen their pink bellies in the summertime? When the water temperature is in the mid 80s, dolphins dump excess body heat by an act of vasodilation. It permits more blood to flow within the peripheral arteries and diffuses heat into the cooler environment. During this process, the dolphin’s belly turns pink!
Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters. As a professional charter captain she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call 239 994-2572.