A video showing a boat captain pulling parasites off a whale's head in a Mexican lagoon went viral. But a behavioral scientist told Insider that removing the parasites could actually hurt the whale.

Humans have discovered ways to get rid of old, dead skin cells – and it turns out humpback whales have made this self-care advancement, too. Whales will roll around in sandy, shallow bay areas to ...

Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work ...

May 18—Did you know that migrating humpback whales exfoliate, i.e. roll around on the debris on the ocean floor to remove dead skin and barnacles? Researchers at Griffith University in Australia used ...

The recent discovery of a fossilized whale bone, curiously adorned with barnacles, has furnished scientists with a unique window into the migratory patterns of these aquatic giants from a bygone era.