Marine researchers have documented bottlenose dolphins along Australia's east coast exhibiting a novel foraging technique, using large shells as tools to scoop up fish. This behavior, termed "shelling," was observed and recorded in July and October of 2025, indicating a consistent and learned hunting strategy.
The observations were made by a team from the University of the Sunshine Coast, who captured video evidence of the dolphins manipulating shells with their mouths to gather their prey. This technique involves scooping fish from the seabed, then manipulating the shell to allow the fish to fall out for consumption.
Historically, the only known instance of dolphins using shells in this manner was documented nearly two decades ago in Shark Bay, located on Australia's west coast, approximately 3,700 miles away. While anecdotal reports of dolphins using tools for fishing existed from the 1990s, the Shark Bay group of 19 bottlenose dolphins remained the sole scientifically documented case until these new findings.
Dr. Alexis Levengood, a marine mammal expert who led the study, noted that the independent development of this skill in dolphins on opposite sides of Australia is remarkable. "Our observations in Queensland show that dolphins on opposite sides of Australia have learned to use tools in the exact same way, independent of one another," Levengood stated.
Evidence of Social Learning
The study also provided potential evidence of social transmission of learned behaviors, specifically through maternal lineage. Footage captured one adult female dolphin, nicknamed Maserati, demonstrating shelling, followed closely by her calf, Bentley. The younger dolphin was observed picking up the same shell and mimicking its mother's technique, successfully gathering a fish.
"Our footage provides the first potential evidence of maternal social transmission - a process by which offspring learn behavior by observing the actions of its mother. It challenges the belief that dolphins learn this tool use from their peers," the study author explained. This finding suggests that dolphins may learn complex behaviors from their parents, not solely from their social groups.
Although bottlenose dolphins are common along the coasts of the United States, this specific tool-using behavior has not been observed in those populations. The researchers published their findings in the journal Marine Mammal Science.
The study acknowledges that not all dolphins in the observed population have adopted this behavior, suggesting it requires specific knowledge and skill, including locating suitable shells and mastering the manipulation technique. However, researchers believe that such an easily learnable skill could spread throughout the population as more individuals observe and adopt it.