Male Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins Help Each Other Find Potential Females and Mates, New Study Reveals

New fascinating research found a strong social relationship and male alliance in the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, showing how they helped each other find potential female partners and mates.

The researchers looked into the alliance formation of dolphins to the same species and the important relationship with one another.

Understanding the Male Indo-Pacific Bottlenose

According to the Shark Bay World Heritage, the bottlenose dolphin is also known as Tursiops aduncus and T. truncatus. The said dolphins could reach up to 120kg to 650 kg. The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins showed smaller teeth, which could have a length from 2.6 to 4m.

(Photo : ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin at the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore on September 3, 2018

The report said that over 2,000 dolphins thrive in Shark Bay, mostly Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. The said species consume squid and fish.

Shark Bay World Heritage added that the male bottlenose dolphins could reach up to 35 years, while the female has a lifespan of up to 40 years. Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins prefer tropical or warm waters.

On the other hand, the Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphins are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, land reclamation and illegal fishing practices.

'Bromance' and social relationship among Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphins

According to the report, the study looked into the dolphin record sightings. The researcher considered the data from June 2022 to March 2017, which they checked on the 197 surveys.

The findings would help future researchers on the same topic. The researchers noted that the study would be the first analysis showing the strong male alliance of dolphins discovered outside Shark Bay.

The research explained that the findings showed that reproductive contexts of male alliance among dolphins are present.

Dr. Chabanne is a marine biologist and an important fellow at the Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems located at Murdoch's Harry Butler Institute.

The study found that male alliance happened in terms of reproductive contexts among the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin. The researcher explained that the said dolphins revealed to help other male dolphins by looking for potential female partners or guarding the potential mates.

The study explained that discovering the male alliance among dolphins could also be possible outside Western Australia's Shark Bay.

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According to the report, the study observed a male dolphin known as Bottomslice. The dolphin was found to display sexual interests to attract female dolphins. The research added that the findings found a strong social bond among male dolphins.

On the other hand, marine biologist Dr. Chabanne said that they observed a group with a presence of males and females. The researchers noted that the female would position in front of the males, while the latter would follow the female dolphins.

The study findings were published in Mammalian Biology and are available on the Phy.org website.

Dolphins are intelligent aquatic animals. Their social relationship with humans and other animals are remarkable, showing a social and friendly attitude.