Dolphins

Life reconstruction of Olympicetus thalassodon pursuing a school of fishes alongside plotopterid birds (background) somewhere in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Credit: Art by Cullen TownsendPaleontologists have discovered a new <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>species</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>A species is a group of living organisms that share a set of common characteristics and are able to breed and…

It’s been a big week (f)in orca news. The black and white cetaceans, often referred to as killer whales seem to be making some unexpected moves—popping up in numbers and places where they usually do not.Reddit Knowingly Downvoting Self | Future TechOn Sunday, a group of researchers—surveying the seas from a plane—spotted four whales just south of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, in an area where orca sightings are exceedingly rare, according to a New York Times report. Elsewhere in New England, a fishing crew noted…

Orcas are attacking and capsizing boats off the coast of Spain in what researchers are saying may be learned behavior. The local maritime rescue service said on Thursday that several killer whales had damaged a sailing boat, adding to dozens of reported orca attacks off the coasts of Spain and Portugal this year.Twitter Is Shifting Right | Future TechA sailing boat was making headway to Gibraltar in the early hours of Thursday when a group of orcas pierced the boat’s hull and broke the rudder. A rapid-response vessel was…

Pod features a diverse cast of marine creatures with their own distinct cultures, languages, and social hierarchies. How did you create such believable characters, specifically dolphins, particularly in terms of their social and cultural dynamics?  Author Laline Paull (Courtesy the publisher) When you’re looking at social animals be they dolphin or human, there’s some kind of organisation and hierarchy. We’re used to seeing leaders and followers, (social media capitalises on this even more). We understand that…

A buzz of clicks and gleeful victory squeals compose the soundtrack in the first footage ever recorded from the perspective of dolphins freely hunting off the coast of North America.For a scientific study published last year, the US Navy strapped cameras to its dolphins, which are trained to help identify undersea mines and protect some of America's nuclear stockpile, then gave them free rein to hunt in San Diego Bay.The clever marine mammals did not disappoint, offering up exciting chases and even targeting venomous sea…

PRYMORSKE, UKRAINE—This stretch of Black Sea coastline is almost deserted, save for a small hut, running entirely on solar power. About 50 kilometers across the blue water is Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, which two Russian warships attacked at the beginning of the invasion last year. It was during this attack that the now-ubiquitous phrase “Russian warship, go fuck yourself” was first-uttered by border guard Roman Hrybov. Ukraine reclaimed the island in June.Rare Polar Bear Attack in Canada | Extreme EarthThe clean, cold air…

One of the world’s most famous orcas is going back to the ocean after more than 50 years in captivity, following years of activism pushing for her release.Is AI Moving Too Fast? | Future TechOn Thursday, the Miami Seaquarium, home of the orca named Lolita, also known as Tokitae, announced that it is planning to release her back into her natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest within the next two years. The effort is part of a first-of-its-kind legal agreement between the Seaquarium and Friends of Toki, a nonprofit…

Enjoy your swim in the oceans surrounding Hawaii—just don’t get too close to the wildlife. Officials with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources have referred 33 swimmers to U.S. law enforcement after the large group was allegedly following a group of dolphins in Hōnaunau Bay on the coast of the Big Island on Sunday morning. Rare Polar Bear Attack in Canada | Extreme EarthAs seen in drone footage and pictures released by the Department yesterday, the 33 swimmers approached a pod of spinner dolphins and were…

One of Kim Kardashian's trademarks is her vocal fry, a creaky voice affectation that studies have suggested is deeply polarizing for humans.But a new study has found that actors and celebrities aren't the only ones to use voice modulation to impress – toothed whales like dolphins, orcas, and sperm whales, are also able to create a vocal fry.In their case, it's a vital tool that allows them to hunt even in the depths of the ocean.And to do so, they use a newly-discovered set of lips, that was hiding in their nose the…

Humans and dolphins on the southern coast of Brazil have created a carefully synchronized 'dance' to shepherd as much migrating mullet into their nets and mouths as possible.Traditional fishers in the city of Laguna have been working with Lahille's bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) to capture fish for more than 140 years.From above, the dolphins appear to drive schools of mullet into the shore, right near fishers who are wading in the shallows. Only after receiving a cue from the dolphins do the fishers…