Here's why dolphins slap octopuses into submission — and why it's dangerous
For wild predators, catching, killing and eating prey can sometimes be a risky business. We can see this on the African savannah, where a well-aimed kick from a zebra can spell trouble for a hungry lion.
But the same can also be true in the ocean, where some prey types are far from helpless seafood.
In particular, a large octopus can be a risky prey for predators to tackle. This is especially so for marine mammals, such as dolphins, which don't have hands to help them keep control of this clingy, eight-armed prey.
Our new research highlights the development of complex behaviours that allow dolphins to eat octopus, thereby improving their ability to survive and reproduce. Read more...