Callosity

A callosity is another name for callus, a piece of skin that has become thickened as a result of repeated contact and friction. When occurring on an animals buttocks, as with baboons, they are specifically called ischial callosities.

Otherwise the word callosity is generally reserved for describing the calluses found on the head of the three species of right whales.

Callosities are a characteristic feature of the "Eubalaena" genus of whales; because they are found on the head of the whale and appear white against the dark background of the whale's skin, they make it very easy to identify these species. The callosities themselves are grey; the white appearance is due to large colonies of whale lice around them. Callosities arise naturally and are present even in late-term whale fetuses, although the work of lice digging into the surface of the skin may make them more jagged and hard over time.

The evolutionary purpose of callosities is unknown. Male right whales have a higher density of callosities than females. Males have been observed scratching one another with their callosities, so they may play a role in sexual selection. This explanation is not entirely satisfactory, as it does not account for the appearance of callosities in females.

Callosities form a unique pattern on every right whale. This makes them an extremely useful tool for the purposes of photo-identification and conservation.

References

*"Callosities" by Mason T. Weinrich in the "Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals". ISBN 0-12-551340-2.
* [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ischialcallosity.html|A Dictionary of Zoology 1999, Oxford University Press 1999]