Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae)
Abstract The dynamics and factors influencing interspecies interactions in the wild are not well understood, particularly among social marine animal species such as Mysticetes and Delphinadae. Baleen whales and various dolphin species have been observed interacting in ways that appear to involve for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Discover Animals |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00099-2 |
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| author | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Olivia Crawley |
| author_facet | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Olivia Crawley |
| author_sort | Jan-Olaf Meynecke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The dynamics and factors influencing interspecies interactions in the wild are not well understood, particularly among social marine animal species such as Mysticetes and Delphinadae. Baleen whales and various dolphin species have been observed interacting in ways that appear to involve foraging, agonistic and affiliative behavior. Interspecific social interaction might be more common than previously known. With increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and social media reports for cetaceans, interspecies interactions can be examined. Here, we describe instances of baleen whale and dolphin interaction involving 19 species in 199 separate and unrelated events documented by videos and photographs. The most common whale-dolphin interaction involved dolphins swimming near the whale’s rostrum, akin to bow riding. Most observed behaviors can be described as mutual or one-sided playful interactions by dolphins. Understanding whale and dolphin interactions provides insight into their complex social structures and potential interspecies mutualism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-81a6c9a6d6c2425db65c2fac81fdbaea |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3004-894X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-81a6c9a6d6c2425db65c2fac81fdbaea2025-08-24T11:57:51ZengSpringerDiscover Animals3004-894X2025-08-012111310.1007/s44338-025-00099-2Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae)Jan-Olaf Meynecke0Olivia Crawley1Whales & Climate Research Program, Griffith UniversityWhales & Climate Research Program, Griffith UniversityAbstract The dynamics and factors influencing interspecies interactions in the wild are not well understood, particularly among social marine animal species such as Mysticetes and Delphinadae. Baleen whales and various dolphin species have been observed interacting in ways that appear to involve foraging, agonistic and affiliative behavior. Interspecific social interaction might be more common than previously known. With increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and social media reports for cetaceans, interspecies interactions can be examined. Here, we describe instances of baleen whale and dolphin interaction involving 19 species in 199 separate and unrelated events documented by videos and photographs. The most common whale-dolphin interaction involved dolphins swimming near the whale’s rostrum, akin to bow riding. Most observed behaviors can be described as mutual or one-sided playful interactions by dolphins. Understanding whale and dolphin interactions provides insight into their complex social structures and potential interspecies mutualism.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00099-2 |
| spellingShingle | Jan-Olaf Meynecke Olivia Crawley Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) Discover Animals |
| title | Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) |
| title_full | Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) |
| title_fullStr | Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) |
| title_short | Assessing social behaviour between baleen whales (Mysticeti) and dolphins (Delphinidae) |
| title_sort | assessing social behaviour between baleen whales mysticeti and dolphins delphinidae |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44338-025-00099-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janolafmeynecke assessingsocialbehaviourbetweenbaleenwhalesmysticetianddolphinsdelphinidae AT oliviacrawley assessingsocialbehaviourbetweenbaleenwhalesmysticetianddolphinsdelphinidae |