Dolphins use sponges as nose protection
Bottlenose dolphins in Australia cleverly use sea sponges as nose protectors while foraging, showcasing rare, culturally transmitted tool-using behavior in marine mammals.
Bottlenose dolphins in Australia's Shark Bay use marine sponges to protect their sensitive noses while foraging on the seabed. They carefully select and break off cone-shaped sponges, balancing them on their beaks as they probe for food. This clever tool use shields them from sharp rocks, coral, or stinging animals during deep dives in murky waters.
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