Scientists Spot Dolphins Using Shells as Tools to Catch Fish, Further Challenging a Longtime Marker of Culture

Scientists in Australia have discovered that dolphins use shells as tools to catch fish, marking the first time this behavior has been recorded in video. The dolphins chase small fish into shells, then carry the prey to the surface and empty the shell's contents into their mouths. This finding challenges the long-held belief that tool use is a unique trait of humans and suggests that the behavior may be taught to young dolphins by their mothers. The discovery provides new evidence that dolphins can learn complex behaviors from their parents, representing a form of social transmission.

• The behavior has been previously observed in other dolphin populations, such as those in Shark Bay, Western Australia.
• The new footage of dolphins shelling in Great Sandy Marine Park is the first time this specific foraging strategy has been documented in video.
• The study suggests that dolphins may learn shelling from their mothers, highlighting the role of maternal teaching in the development of complex behaviors.

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