

"There were also juveniles there, and it appeared that the adults were demonstrating the snake to them." Anaconda The researchers add, "After that, we were able to see on the images that the adult males were sexually aroused when engaged in object play with the anaconda." Another hypothesis is that the lighthearted behavior was, in fact, sexual.

These interactions between dolphins are unusual, and the researchers speculate that the dolphins were either teaching each other about the snake or eating it rather than playing with it. The dolphins engaged with the snake in various ways, swimming in synchronized formation on occasion but mainly staying in the same region (the activity moved around 70-80 meters or 230-262 feet downstream while the researchers were watching over the course of 7 minutes). tADtnIbPWv- The New York Times May 4, 2022 The aroused males could have been having a sexual romp with each other before the snake became entangled. "It was evident that they were more interested in playing with the snake than eating it."Īlso Read: Scientists Used AI to Better Analyze Animal Behavior to Help Improve Animal Welfare A Rare Interactionīolivian river dolphins were photographed with an anaconda in their mouths in August 2021. While it was difficult to estimate their group size, at least six of them," the researchers wrote in a study documenting the incident.

Researchers saw a group of dolphins lingering above the water for longer than usual, but it wasn't until they looked at their photos that they realized what was happening. The shot was taken along the Tijamuchi River in Bolivia in August 2021. While it's unclear exactly what happened here, dolphins and cetaceans in general are renowned for their playful actions, in which other animals may participate freely or involuntarily. River dolphins are rarely observed since it's unusual for them to have their heads above water for lengthy periods of time, let alone while juggling a predatory snake between their jaws.
