# Dolphin shelling behavior in Queensland

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dolphin-shelling-behavior-in-queensland
> Updated: 2026-08-15T17:31:26.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast have documented the first visual evidence of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins using a hunting technique called ‘shelling’ on Australia’s east coast. The behavior was observed in the Great Sandy Marine Park near Hervey Bay, Queensland.

In this process, dolphins herd fish into large, empty seashells on the seabed and then bring the shells to the surface, shaking them to drain the prey into their mouths. While this behavior was previously known in Western Australia, these recordings provide the first published record of the practice on the east coast.

The observations also suggest ‘maternal social transmission’ of this skill. Researchers recorded an adult female dolphin and a calf engaging in the behavior, noting that the calf appeared to mimic the mother’s actions, which indicates that such complex tool-use skills may be passed down through generations via maternal teaching.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: Dolphins in Australia filmed using seashells to trap prey

Scientists have documented the first footage of dolphins on Australia’s east coast using seashells to trap fish, providing evidence of potential maternal teaching of tool-use skills.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dolphins-in-australia-filmed-using-seashells-to-trap-prey

### 2026-08-12: Dolphins in Queensland filmed using shells to hunt prey

Scientists have filmed bottlenose dolphins in Queensland, Australia, using seashells to hunt fish, providing new evidence of tool use and potential skill transmission from mother to calf.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dolphins-in-queensland-filmed-using-shells-to-hunt-prey

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Cite as: Dolphin shelling behavior in Queensland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dolphin-shelling-behavior-in-queensland