Some Australian dolphins use sponges to hunt fish, but it’s harder than it looks
July 15, 2025
Some dolphins in Australia use sponges on their noses to hunt fish, a skill passed down through generations. Research published Tuesday reveals that this technique involves using sponges to protect their noses while stirring up fish from the seafloor. But the sponges interfere with the dolphins’ echolocation, making the skill challenging to master. Only about 5% of the studied population, or 30 dolphins, use this method. Scientists say it’s an efficient but rare hunting strategy, learned over years and passed only from mother to calf. The findings highlight the complexity of dolphin behavior and appear in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
