Dolphins Use Unique Hunting Technique in Australia
In Australia, dolphins have developed an interesting way to catch fish. These clever marine creatures use sponges on their beaks as a tool, protecting themselves from sharp rocks while they hunt.
By covering their beaks with sponges, these dolphins dive into sandy channels, stirring up fish like the barred sandperch for a meal. This unique behavior, passed down through generations, is more complicated than it appears, according to a recent study in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Using sponges alters the dolphins’ echolocation abilities — their way of emitting sounds and listening for echoes to find their way. Ellen Rose Jacobs, a marine biologist at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, explained that the sponge acts like a mask, making it harder to perceive sounds accurately. However, dolphins still learn to adapt and continue using echolocation clicks even while hunting.
Research noticed that this sponge-hunting technique is rare, with only about 5% of the dolphin population in Shark Bay practicing it. That translates to around 30 dolphins who have mastered the skill. Marine ecologist Boris Worm mentioned that it takes years of practice for these dolphins to learn this specialized method.
Young dolphins, or calves, typically spend three to four years with their mothers, observing them and picking up essential survival skills. The art of sponge hunting is exclusively taught from mother to offspring, highlighting the importance of family in dolphin society.
This remarkable example of animal behavior showcases the connection between tradition and survival in the animal kingdom, reminding us that even in nature, knowledge must be passed down through generations.
