Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast have successfully documented a rare hunting behavior in bottlenose dolphins off the coast of Queensland, Australia. This practice, known as shelling, involves dolphins herding fish into large, empty seashells. Once the fish are trapped inside the shell, the dolphin brings the object to the surface and shakes it to drain the water and release the fish directly into its mouth.
The research team observed this activity between July and October 2025. Lead author Dr. Alexis Levengood stated that witnessing the behavior firsthand was a significant moment for the team. While shelling has been reported in Western Australia previously, this marks the first time it has been formally documented on the east coast of the country. Local reports suggest the behavior may have been occurring in the region for several years prior to this publication.
A key observation during the study was a dolphin calf mimicking its mother’s technique. This interaction provides potential evidence that dolphins learn specific hunting tools through social transmission. Rather than being an innate trait, the use of seashells appears to be a learned skill passed from parent to offspring. This challenges previous assumptions about how marine mammals acquire complex problem-solving abilities.
These findings add to the growing body of research regarding the intelligence of dolphins. By understanding how they adapt to their environment and teach one another, scientists aim to gain further insight into the evolution of social behavior and tool use in non-human species. More research is scheduled to explore the extent of this practice and its impact on the local dolphin population in Queensland.