An unexpected behavior in the orcuses was recorded by scientists in the Salish Sea marine.

According to a new study published in the journal Current Biology, the orcuses of the South, a significantly endangered population, was observed to distract pieces of algae and use them to rub with each other – behavior that researchers called “allokelping”.

This is the first recorded case where marine mammals use objects as grooming tools.

Scientists estimate that allokelping can work either to remove dead skin and maintain a healthy skin, which refers to the well -known dead cell scrub.

At the same time, this behavior is also evaluated as a form of social connection, as it was mainly observed between relatives or age nearby mammals

“It is a completely new form of use of tools, not related to food or mating, as is usually the case in the animal kingdom,” said study leader Michael Weiss, Director of Research at Center for Whale Research.

The discovery was made possible thanks to modern drone technologies that allow scientists to observe mammals’ behavior from above, revealing details that could not be distinguished by land or by boats.