Scientists have filmed bottlenose dolphins using empty snail shells as tools to scoop up and trap fish off the northeast coast of Australia [1].
This observation provides rare evidence of complex tool use in marine mammals and suggests that such behaviors are passed down through generations via social learning.
The footage captures a mother dolphin and her calf utilizing large, empty sea shells to capture prey [1]. The dolphins use the shells to trap fish, a technique that allows them to secure food more efficiently [2]. This behavior was reported on Aug. 19, 2026 [1].
Researchers said the behavior is a learned technique rather than an instinctual one [3]. The observation of the mother and calf suggests that the mother is teaching the calf how to use the shells to trap fish [2]. This transfer of knowledge highlights the social structure, and cognitive capabilities, of the species [3].
While dolphins are known for their intelligence, the use of shells as physical containers to capture prey is a distinct behavior [1]. The sightings occurred in the waters of eastern Australia, where the pair demonstrated the ability to manipulate the environment to their advantage [2].
The discovery adds to the growing body of evidence regarding animal cognition and the capacity for non-human species to innovate solutions to foraging challenges [3]. By observing the interaction between the mother and calf, scientists said they can better understand how cultural transmission works within dolphin populations [1].
“Dolphins using empty snail shells as tools to scoop up and trap fish.”
The discovery of tool use in bottlenose dolphins underscores the sophistication of marine mammal intelligence. Because the behavior was observed in a mother and calf, it indicates that tool manipulation is a cultural trait passed through social learning rather than a biological reflex. This suggests that dolphin populations may develop localized 'cultures' of foraging that vary by region and social group.
