Breakfast with dolphins

[capnsensible]

Tail slapping means back off.

If you got any questions about dolphin behaviour, email Dolphin Adventures in Gib. Rossi is probably one of the worlds experts and she will answer.

 

[dylanwinter]

Tail slapping means back off.

If you got any questions about dolphin behaviour, email Dolphin Adventures in Gib. Rossi is probably one of the worlds experts and she will answer.

I have spent some time on the web and it is interpreted in a number of ways - and is not always associated with what is perceived as a threat.

http://wilddolphin.org/behavior.html

Tail or Peduncle (Tail Stock) Slaps

These are often seen before a change in the pods behavior. Most often, immediately after we see this behavior, the pod will change its traveling direction. Tail slap video and how it looks from underwater. The dolphin is excited about his "play toy"! The spinners use tail slaps as acoustic signals — giving cues about danger, or a signal to dive.



http://www.dolphinresearch.org.au/bottlenose.php

It would seem that dolphins are not just making noise when they whistle, as there is evidence that a whistle can tell others about who you are. Not long ago, it was thought that each individual dolphin had a signature whistle that was sort of like a name. However, current theory suggests that whistles are not that specific and that it may be more of a group signature. Cetaceans not only use clicks, squeaks and whistles to communicate, they also use body language. Bottlenose dolphins have been known to clap their jaws together in conflict situations, and splashes and slaps made with the body may also be used as a form of communication. A common behaviour that we observe is tail slapping, which seems to be used in a number of situations. If a dolphin repeatedly tail-slaps towards a boat, be it our research vessel or a commercial tour vessel, it would seem that they may be "telling" the boat to "back off"! When they tail-slap in this manner and display other avoidance behaviour, we take that as our cue to leave them. On the other hand, dolphins have been seen to repeatedly tail-slap when there are no boats near them or even around. This could be linked with feeding or social behaviour. On one occasion, we noted a dolphin rapidly tail slap, which caused the others to quickly go to where that dolphin was. It is possible that it was trying to tell the others that there was food there.

The tail slaps are inevitably also associated with sex

the film has caused the IMP - Oxford to issue a press release

"This remarkable footage has come to light of the dolphin movement that is sweeping the globe. The tail slapping was first observed in Japan and then in the Faroes and has now spread via Fiji to Scotland. The gentle co-ordinated tail slapping has been interpreted by the scientists working at the Institute of Marine Psychology - Oxford - as a clear attempt to make mankind aware that dolphin society disapproves of the way we are managing things.



Dr Phil Cutlass at the IMP (where PNM was first identified as a serious sailors affliction) has used the medium of human dance to communicate directly with the dolphins.



His interpretation of the precise meaning of the co-ordinated tail slapping has been treated with some derision in unthinking circles but this film conclusively shows that he onto something.



It is a bit of amateur video - the people in the film are an elderly couple from the UK - but in it you can clearly see the dolphins making an appeal for them to stop cooking breakfast and listen to what the dolphins have to say."

 

[capnsensible]

One of the FAQs,s the crew on the boats get asked is by kids. What are those two doing?,

The most frequent answer is go ask your mum.

Dolphins are at it a lot. Put your reincarnation request early.

 

[dylanwinter]

One of the FAQs,s the crew on the boats get asked is by kids. What are those two doing?,

The most frequent answer is go ask your mum.

Dolphins are at it a lot. Put your reincarnation request early.

I understand that foreplay is an elaborate, long and athletic affair

the act itself lasts a second or two

D

 

[capnsensible]

I understand that foreplay is an elaborate, long and athletic affair

the act itself lasts a second or two

D

No change there then, just eat more fish.

 

[trapezeartist]

Brilliant video, Dylan. Dolphins never fail to lift the spirits. I reckon the tail slaps are "Get a move on. This is too slow for bow-riding."

 

[Boreades]

Brilliant video, Dylan. Dolphins never fail to lift the spirits. I reckon the tail slaps are "Get a move on. This is too slow for bow-riding."

+1

 

[dylanwinter]

Brilliant video, Dylan. Dolphins never fail to lift the spirits. I reckon the tail slaps are "Get a move on. This is too slow for bow-riding."

Anthropomorphism is especially dangerous when practiced by humans

 

[CoVianna]

I understand that foreplay is an elaborate, long and athletic affair

the act itself lasts a second or two

D

You? Or the dolphins?

 

[mjcoon]

Anthropomorphism is especially dangerous when practiced by humans

Or even when practised...

Mike.

 

[pmagowan]

Lovely film. I wish I was having your breakfast! There definitely looks to be a sexual component to their behaviour but then who knows what is going on in these beautiful creature's minds. We ran into a school of common dolphins about 10 miles east of Barra. I did take some footage but it is not very good as we were sailing quite well in a mucky sea. Some of them were jumping clean out of the water. I don't think they were trying to tell us anything but perhaps it was a complex way of saying 'so long and thanks for all the fish'!