Dolphins Documented Using Innovative Hunting Technique Known as 'Shelling'

Dolphins have been observed utilizing shells as tools for hunting fish, a behavior recently filmed near Great Sandy Marine Park in Queensland, Australia.

This technique, known as shelling, involves dolphins trapping fish inside shells and then bringing them to the surface to consume. The behavior has also been noted in Shark Bay, suggesting it may be a learned skill shared among dolphin populations.

Dr. Alexis Levengood, a lead researcher on the study, reported witnessing a dolphin using this technique while on a research boat. The footage captured marks the first documented instance of shelling on the east coast of Australia. Observations indicate that young dolphins may learn this behavior from their mothers, challenging previous assumptions about how dolphins acquire tool-use skills.