ScienceBubbles the dolphin reportedly chased fish until they vomited—then ate the vomit
Science describes the behavior as kleptoparasitism, or food theft, and says it is one of the few well-documented examples of a cetacean stealing food.
TLDR
Science reports that scientists began hearing accounts in 2017 of an unusual dolphin off Australia’s east coast. Named Bubbles by locals, he would single out a fish, chase it until it threw up and eat the vomit instead of the fish. Science describes this as kleptoparasitism—stealing another animal’s food.
Bubbles the dolphin reportedly chased fish until they vomited—then ate the vomit
Science describes the behavior as kleptoparasitism, or food theft, and says it is one of the few well-documented examples of a cetacean stealing food.
TLDR
Science reports that scientists began hearing accounts in 2017 of an unusual dolphin off Australia’s east coast. Named Bubbles by locals, he would single out a fish, chase it until it threw up and eat the vomit instead of the fish. Science describes this as kleptoparasitism—stealing another animal’s food.
