Study Documents Dolphin Bubbles Stealing Regurgitated Meals from Bigeye Trevally off Australia
Bubbles, a bottlenose dolphin located off the eastern coast of Australia, has been seen pursuing bigeye trevally until they vomit, after which he consumes the expelled food. This behavior, highlighted in a study released on September 13 in Ecology and Evolution, marks one of the earliest documented instances of kleptoparasitism among cetaceans. Marine scientist Asia Armstrong has been observing Bubbles since 2017. Between June 2021 and October 2025, researchers noted Bubbles near Lady Elliot Island, where he made 20 attempts to forage, achieving success in 11 instances. Co-author Jacinta Shackleton remarked that Bubbles seems to display behavior after feeding. The findings indicate that kleptoparasitism in cetaceans may be more common than previously thought, likely due to difficulties in observation.
Key facts
- Bubbles is a common bottlenose dolphin living off the east coast of Australia.
- The study was published September 13 in the journal Ecology and Evolution.
- Researchers used GoPro cameras between June 2021 and October 2025 near Lady Elliot Island.
- Bubbles chased bigeye trevally until they regurgitated, then ate the vomit, performing up to ten chases in 30 minutes.
- Of 20 foraging attempts, Bubbles successfully ate regurgitated food 11 times.
- Bubbles made clicking sounds and head movements before chasing, possibly using echolocation to find fish with full stomachs.
- The behavior is one of the first detailed descriptions of kleptoparasitism in cetaceans.
- Jason Bruck of Stephen F. Austin State University is skeptical about assigning intention to the behavior.
Entities
Artists
- Asia Armstrong
- Jacinta Shackleton
- Jason Bruck
- Janet Mann
- Romney Edwards-Francis
- Vivienne Foroughirad
- Gennaro Tomma
- Sahas Mehra
- Melissa Hobson
- Sarah Kuta
Institutions
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Ecology and Evolution
- Texas A&M University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Georgetown University
- BBC Wildlife Magazine
- Scientific American
- Science
- Master Reef Guides
- Smithsonian Magazine
Locations
- Australia
- Lady Elliot Island
- Great Barrier Reef
- Queensland
- Longmont
- Colorado