Observations on the Remarkable (and Mysterious) Wound-Healing Process of the Bottlenose Dolphin

Abstract

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Fatal tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier attack in New Caledonia erroneously ascribed to great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias

“…4 Wounds inflicted by tiger sharks are indeed symmetrical, as observed on the body of Nari, a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) bitten by a tiger shark off Moreton Island, Australia. 13 In addition, a tiger shark's tooth has a shape similar to that of a can-opener and its edges are strongly serrated 4,12 : these features obviously serve the purpose of sawing through hard material, like turtle shell, dolphin tailstock or whale skull and bones, 14e17 thus explaining the regular aspect of the section of the femur of the victim.…”

Emerging nonmetabolic functions of skin fat

“…Enhancing adipose regeneration either from endogenous progenitors or with the aid of autologous fat grafts can represent a novel approach in wound infection management. Intriguingly, animal species with highly developed blubber, such as dolphins, display profoundly enhanced infection fighting and wound healing abilities 109 . Exploring the innate immune biology of adipose tissue, including that in aquatic mammals, might lead to novel breakthroughs in fat-centred antibacterial strategies.…”

Platelet-Rich Plasma and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine-Associated Treatments in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

“…Dolphins exhibit an extraordinary capacity to heal deep soft-tissue injuries, such as those following shark bites [1]. Dolphins in captivity often experience external soft tissue injuries as a result of repetitive exercises and movements, such as open wounds on the underside of their lower mandible which slowly develop and worsen during training regimens.…”