Dolphins get nose for fishing with sponge tool

Dolphins get nose for fishing with sponge tool

Hi All -
Ok so Dolphins use tools - no news that - but what is news is male dolphins are hesitant - if not down right sneaks about showing the use of tools around other male dolphins!

Bottlenose dolphins from an extended family in Australia’s Shark Bay have taken to protecting their noses with pieces of sponge when foraging for fish on the abrasive sea bed.

BUT!

Those males that use sponges for hunting do so discreetly and avoid other male dolphins.

I just get the biggest kick out of that, lol!

I wonder what it’s all about?
Any ideas why the males are, well, shy of using tools?

Also, why hide the use from other males?

*P*E*A*C*E*

Eeks I hope this goes in this forum!
Thank you in advance for the fix if I mugged it up!



[edit on 6-1-2009 by silo13]

Still want to know why the males are shy of letting other males see them using the sponge!


*P*E*A*C*E*

reply to post by silo13


Amazing!! The only explanation I can think of for the "sponge-shyness" is that it could be seen as a sign of weakness that your snout is not hard enough.

I suppose that you could compare it to how some macho humans will refrain from wearing gloves or a helmet in order to prove they're tough.

Macho dolphins

They just don't want other males to steal the sponge they found after foraging for so long.

not a one liner

Although I love this subject and hope it brings awareness to many on the topic:

This is rehashed news existing thread from 2005 by internos:

Dolphins use Tools

Please continue discussion there, some more information and great replies,

FLAG THE MUTHA!!!

As all the current dolphins are going insane from the Sonar, Pollution and fishing population collapses.


Kind Regards,

Elf.

reply to post by MischeviousElf


What? This a New Article - 4 years later and new information on male dolphins being shy and hiding their *sponge use* from other male dolphins. (I didn't' see any of that in the other thread, but then my eyes are tired. But I did notice the photos don't work there anymore...)...

So, what are you saying, my thread should go in Breaking News?

So if this needs to go into Breaking News I hope a MOD moves it.

Too bad you're not a MOD I'd ask you to do it!

Or a MOD can close it if it's not kosher-dill-pickle I guess.

Thanks.

**************************************************

I've been looking around the Internet and can't find any other male mammals that are shy of using *appendages*.

Sounds fishy to me!

*Going back to info hunting*

*P*E*A*C*E*


[edit on 6-1-2009 by silo13]

reply to post by MrVertigo

Amazing!! The only explanation I can think of for the "sponge-shyness" is that it could be seen as a sign of weakness that your snout is not hard enough.

I suppose that you could compare it to how some macho humans will refrain from wearing gloves or a helmet in order to prove they're tough.

Macho dolphins

Bust a gut on that post - thank you!

I've been looking around and not having luck on finding other male mammals who don't want their buddies to know what they're up to - Other than men!

Interestingly enough Dolphins also exhibit homosexual behavior - no shyness there - but give them a tool to use to help catch fish, and that’s taboo!

Amazing stuff this!

Thanks!

*P*E*A*C*E*


[edit on 6-1-2009 by silo13]

reply to post by Anonymous ATS

They just don't want other males to steal the sponge they found after foraging for so long.

Brilliant in it's simplicity - and probably truth!

Thanks