Dolphin mother and calf observed using shells to catch fish in Australia

Researchers documented a dolphin population in Queensland's Great Sandy Marine Park using empty sea snail shells to trap and eat fish, a behavior previously known only from dolphins in Shark Bay, Western Australia, roughly 2% of that population.

Because the two dolphin groups do not migrate and could not have taught each other directly, scientists led by Alexis Levengood believe the technique, called shelling, was invented independently in each location. The team also filmed a calf performing the behavior immediately after its mother, the first documented case of a young dolphin apparently learning shelling from a parent rather than peers.

Older photographic evidence from tour boats suggests the Queensland dolphins may have been shelling since at least 2013, well before anyone with a research grant noticed.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.