Shelling (fishing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shelling (or conching) is a rare, tool-based foraging strategy observed in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.).[1] This behavior includes dolphins driving prey into an empty conch shell, and then pouring the shells contents into its mouth.[1][2]
The behavior have been observed in bottlenose dolphin after a survey on Shark Bay since 2007 by collecting both genetic and behavioral data for more than 1,000 dolphins.[3] Nineteen dolphins have been observed to use the shelling strategy a total of forty-two times.[3] The shelling strategy is rarely observed and may be a new foraging strategy developed by bottlenose dolphins.[1]
Transmission of behavior
Research has shown that the shelling behavior spreads not only via a mother-to-calf bonding, but through peer interaction as well.[4][5] Dolphins have been shown to primarily use mother-to-calf interaction as a learning mechanism, and peer-to-peer behavioral influence is rarely seen.[4]