Scientists have taken an exciting step toward being able to tell a dolphin’s age from a skin sample.
Researchers from Massey University have developed the first “skin clock” for common dolphins, a tool that reads patterns in DNA to estimate age. Until now, dolphin ages have been estimated by examining growth layers in teeth, but this method can be time-consuming and less reliable for older animals. The new approach could offer a simpler and less invasive alternative.
In their study, scientists analysed skin from 75 common dolphins, most collected from mass stranding events over the last 30 years. They compared the results from the new skin-based method with traditional tooth-based age estimates to test how well the “skin clock” performed.
They found that the two methods closely matched for younger dolphins, though the skin clock tended to underestimate age in older individuals. While more testing is needed, this early research shows real promise for improving how we study dolphin populations.
Why does this matter? Knowing a dolphin’s age helps scientists understand population health, reproduction, and survival — key information for conservation. In New Zealand, where common dolphins are a keystone species, better age data can help reveal how threats like bycatch, pollution, and habitat change affect them over time.
Research like this adds another piece to the puzzle of understanding and protecting these remarkable animals.
