Dolphins That Hunt with Sponges — and the Mothers Who Teach Them

Quick Take

• Most dolphins never master this trick, though the reason has nothing to do with intelligence. Why most skip sponging →
• A sea sponge hands these dolphins access to prey no other predator can reach. How sponges unlock prey →
• A dolphin can inherit almost everything from its mother, though not this one thing. How calves learn the trick →
• Wild animals have cultures too, and one dolphin community built theirs around an unlikely tool. Inside this dolphin culture →

It’s no secret that dolphins are some of the smartest animals in nature. They possess incredible intelligence, demonstrated by their strong social groups and remarkable communication skills. This includes how they interact with the environment around them. A YouTube video by Rotating Planet discusses how one dolphin was observed using a sea sponge to protect their nose. Read here to learn more.

Why Dolphins Use Sponges

The video above provides a great look at how dolphins use elements of their environment as tools. Bottlenose dolphins have very sensitive rostrums that can easily get scraped up and hurt when searching for food. Since these dolphins often feed on prey in coral reefs, the sharp and jagged edges can cause injuries. To help protect themselves, they use sea sponges to cover their rostrum. Literally known as sponging, it is one of the best-documented examples of animals using tools. The marine sponges they use act as natural cushions, absorbing impact and reducing the risk of cuts on their faces. This adaptation allows dolphins to access food within reefs that other predators find difficult to reach, ensuring a reliable food source.

Another amazing fact about sponging is that it is a learned behavior. While we may think of wild animals as purely instinctual, many species, such as bottlenose dolphins, pass on various behaviors and practices across generations. Sponging is just one example. Dolphin calves typically learn from their mothers by accompanying them on hunts. Because this is a learned behavior, it is not universal among all dolphins. Sponging is actually quite rare and is mostly observed in communities of bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia. This highlights how wild animals, like humans, can develop unique cultures shaped by their environments. So while all dolphins may not know about sponging, the simple existence of this behavior is amazing to see.