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San Diego, CA – New research led by the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) demonstrates how an innovative epigenetic tool can help protect one of the world’s most endangered dolphin subspecies. It is a vital step in predicting dolphin survival rates and population recovery and crafting conservation measures for endangered species internationally.
This breakthrough conservation advancement comes at a pivotal time for the Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus). The dolphins were recently classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), following a 2025 subpopulation assessment. The assessment was led by Brazilian marine biologist Dr. Pedro Fruet, who founded the conservation organization Kaosa and is a NMMF collaborator.
Dr. Cynthia Smith, NMMF President and CEO said, “With so many dolphin species at risk of extinction, the contributions of our conservation medicine specialists are essential. We are proud to partner with Dr. Fruet and his team on urgent efforts to conserve endangered Lahille’s dolphins.”
It is estimated that only 330 mature Lahille’s dolphins remain in the coastal waters of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, indicating historical declines in their subpopulations and putting them at significant risk of extinction.
The epigenetics research was led by Dr. Ashley Barratclough, NMMF Conservation Medicine Veterinarian, in collaboration with an international team of scientists and veterinarians through Operation GRACE, NMMF’s global endangered species initiative. By analyzing methylation patterns from DNA extracted from small, remote biopsy skin samples and applying the epigenetic aging clock for bottlenose dolphins, the team determined both the age and sex of 51 Lahille’s dolphins. They ranged in age from one to 45 years, with 29 males and 22 females identified.
“The research demonstrates how this cutting-edge science can now be used to protect endangered species internationally,” said Dr. Barratclough. “The epigenetic aging clock for bottlenose dolphins was initially developed with known-age dolphins at the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. It was then applied to free-ranging animals in U.S. waters for further validation prior to application on an endangered species. By unlocking the age and sex structure of these 51 Lahille’s dolphins, we’re providing conservationists in South America with information essential to their assessment of reproductive potential and development of a conservation management strategy for the species.”
Dr. Fruet underscored that “these results are powerful and highlight how long-term research and international collaboration can directly strengthen science-based conservation policy. By improving our understanding of the demography of a population under cumulative human pressures, we are now better equipped to evaluate management scenarios and scale this approach to guide coordinated regional research and conservation actions.”
The study’s findings “Application of epigenetics to understand the demography of the Lahille’s bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus gephyreus,” were published in the journal Endangered Species Research on September 25. It is available here.
“For species like the Lahille’s dolphin, the crisis is now,” emphasized Dr. Forrest Gomez, NMMF Director of Conservation Medicine. “Through Operation GRACE, we’re applying advanced tools and cross-disciplinary expertise to support collaborative teams on the front lines. This partnership shows how science can inform smarter, long-term conservation strategies for the future.”
Learn more in Knowable Magazine’s article, “The clock is ticking: How epigenetics could help save wildlife from collapse,” which is available online here.
The research was made possible with the support of the NMMF Board of Directors, YAQU PACHA, Dolphin Quest, and local partners in Brazil, including Kaosa and Museu Oceanográfico – FURG. Open access was supported by NMMF’s Jeanette Fuller Ridgway Scientific Writing Fund.
About the National Marine Mammal Foundation
The National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) is a global leader in aquatic mammal science, medicine, and conservation. Their team of experts is helping to answer critical questions about the health of the world’s dolphins, porpoises, and whales and the ecosystems they rely on. They conduct innovative science and collaborate with researchers and institutions to translate their findings into practical applications in medicine and species conservation. The NMMF provides technical, medical, and scientific expertise to address urgent conservation medicine priorities, ecosystem health, and endangered species recovery. Through Operation GRACE, they partner with species experts and veterinarians worldwide to support health assessment efforts and help train local teams and communities in conservation medicine approaches, building in-country technical capacity to help safeguard at-risk species and their habitats for years to come.
