1. Cooperative Herding:
* Spinner dolphins work together in groups to herd their prey, usually fish and squid, into tight schools.
* They use a technique called "carousel feeding" where they form a circle around the prey and swim in a spiral, pushing the fish towards the center.
* This makes it easier for them to catch their meal.
2. Active Pursuit:
* They also actively chase their prey by using their speed and agility to dart around and catch individual fish.
* These dolphins can swim at speeds up to 20 mph!
Additional factors:
* Echolocation: Like other dolphins, spinner dolphins use echolocation to locate their prey. They emit high-pitched clicks and analyze the returning sound waves to determine the size, shape, and location of nearby organisms.
* Nighttime hunting: They are more active at night when their prey, like squid, are more readily available.
Overall, spinner dolphins are very successful hunters, and their cooperative and active hunting methods make them well-suited for capturing their preferred prey in the open ocean.