This Dolphin Steals from Fish for Its Meals

Common bottlenose dolphins are often viewed as benevolent creatures, but recent research has challenged this notion. A study published in Ecology and Evolution has revealed that these intelligent marine mammals are not above stealing food, even from their prey. Researchers from Florida and Australia observed a male dolphin nicknamed "Bubbles" on the southern Great Barrier Reef over a four-year period.

Over that time, the dolphin successfully stole food 11 times. Bubbles' method involved chasing bigeye trevally fishes until they regurgitated their meals, which he then consumed. This kleptoparasitic behavior was facilitated by the dolphin's frequent echolocation clicks and low-frequency vocalizations, which may have heightened the trevallys' fear, making them more likely to regurgitate their food.

The researchers noted that Bubbles always hunted alone, an atypical behavior for common bottlenose dolphins that typically hunt in groups. This suggests that Bubbles may have developed this unique feeding strategy due to the need for less energy than catching fish. The study's authors concluded that Bubbles' success demonstrated the dolphin's adaptability and flexibility in finding food.

Bubbles had been seen in the area around Lady Elliot Island since at least 2017, suggesting that he had honed his unique feeding approach over time.