Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast recently documented a rare hunting behavior in bottlenose dolphins along the coast of Queensland. The activity, known as shelling, involves dolphins trapping fish inside empty seashells, lifting them to the surface, and shaking the shells to drain water so the prey slides directly into their mouths.
While this behavior was previously studied in Western Australia, these recent observations in the Great Sandy Marine Park mark the first time it has been recorded on the east coast. Scientists captured footage of an adult female and her calf performing the maneuver, providing evidence that this complex skill may be passed from mothers to their offspring through observation. This suggests that dolphins possess the capacity for social learning, allowing them to pass down survival traditions across generations.
The research suggests that dolphins in this region have been using tools this way for at least a decade, as indicated by photographs taken by local tour operators dating back to 2013. The fact that two separated populations on opposite sides of the continent arrived at the same solution to the same problem offers researchers a unique opportunity to study how environment and cognition drive innovation in marine mammals.
Documenting these actions remains a challenge because they occur in seconds and often go unnoticed without long-term field observation. To bridge these gaps, the research team is calling on members of the public to report sightings. Studying these traditions helps experts understand how different species solve environmental challenges and provides insight into the evolution of complex behavior.