Home / Environment / Dolphins Master Rare 'Shelling' Hunting Technique
Dolphins Master Rare 'Shelling' Hunting Technique
19 Aug
Summary
- Dolphins were observed using 'shelling' to trap fish for the first time on Australia's east coast.
- This rare hunting behavior, where shells are used as tools, was documented in Queensland's Great Sandy Marine Park.
- Researchers believe juveniles learn 'shelling' from their mothers, challenging peer-learning theories.
Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast recently documented an exceptionally rare dolphin hunting behavior known as 'shelling' within Queensland, Australia's Great Sandy Marine Park. The observations, made between July and October 2025, captured bottlenose dolphins using shells as tools to trap fish.
This sophisticated hunting technique involves the dolphins raising shells out of the water, trapping prey, and then shaking the shells on the surface until the fish slides into their jaws. The research team, led by Dr. Alexis Levengood, noted that this is the first official recording of 'shelling' on the east coast of Australia, with the behavior having been published only once prior.
Significantly, the footage revealed both an adult female dolphin and its calf exhibiting this behavior. This observation led researchers to propose it as the first potential evidence of maternal social transmission for this tool-use in dolphins, suggesting offspring learn this skill by observing their mothers rather than from peers. This finding offers new insights into dolphin behavior and learning.
