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“I started screaming because I know what shelling looks like,” dolphin photographed performing extremely rare behavior
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast documented a rare dolphin behavior called 'shelling' for the first time on Australia's east coast at the Great Sandy Marine Park between July and October 2025.
- 'Shelling' involves dolphins using shells as tools to trap fish, shaking the shell until the prey slides into their mouths, showcasing advanced hunting techniques.
- The study observed both an adult female dolphin and its calf performing the behavior, providing the first potential evidence of maternal social transmission of tool use in dolphins.
- This discovery challenges previous beliefs that dolphins learn such behaviors only from peers, highlighting the importance of photographic documentation in scientific research.
- The article emphasizes the vital role of traditional photography in capturing and preserving rare wildlife behaviors for scientific and educational purposes.
