Coordinated feeding tactics of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Researchers have uncovered that Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Ilha Grande Bay, Brazil, exhibit sophisticated coordinated feeding tactics, with a notable preference for strategies involving herding and capturing prey, particularly during spring-summer when larger schooling fish spawn. The study, analyzing 201 feeding bouts, identified four distinct tactics, with those engaging more individuals proving most effective for targeting larger schools of fish like Sardinella brasiliensis. A groundbreaking finding was the presence of calves in 95% of these coordinated behaviors, including jumps, suggesting social learning plays a crucial role in their development and survival. This expands our understanding of the dolphins' feeding strategies and their adaptability to seasonal changes.

Tardin, R. H. O., Especie, M. A., Nery, M. F., D’Azeredo, F. T., & Simão, S. M. (2011). Coordinated feeding tactics of the Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (Cetacea: Delphinidae), in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Zoologia (Curitiba, Impresso), 28(3), 291–296. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-46702011000300002