East Coast Dolphins Observe Shell‑Based Fishing Tool Use, Suggesting Learning from Mother

Scientists have documented, for the first time, a dolphin population on Australia’s east coast using large empty snail shells to catch fish—a behavior previously known only from a small group in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Researchers filmed a mother and her calf employing the technique, indicating that the skill may be transmitted from parent to offspring. The method, called “shelling,” involves chasing fish into shells, inserting the beak to trap the prey, and then raising the shell to release the fish into the dolphin’s mouth. The study, led by University of the Sunshine Coast lecturer Alexis Levengood, confirms that at least three dolphins in Great Sandy Marine Park, Queensland, use this tool, highlighting a rare example of cultural transmission in marine mammals.