Dolphins are undoubtedly one of the more societal specie in the creature kingdom . They are also known toprepare their foodbefore run through it and have particularlyinteresting sex life .
Now , append another anomalousness to the list of dolphin quirk : superpods . dolphin are congregating in the century off the coast of South Africa . The strange piece ? Scientists ca n’t reckon out why .
It ’s a well - bed fact that Indo - Pacific bottlenose ( Tursiops aduncus ) dolphins hang out in largepods , but research published inMarine Mammal Sciencesays more than 50 animals is unusual ( although it does happen ) .
population off the Wild Coast of South Africa have skyrocket . In late age , pod size have intimately tripled ; in 2008 , an average seedcase had 18 dolphins , whereas eight years later on that number increase to 76 .
Now , dolphin pod in the orbit have been clock in at an average 325 dolphin .
And those pods are growing and forming superpods – a large group of cetaceans from unlike extended families .
These congregations in Algoa Bay , a shallow inlet off the Eastern Cape , had as many as 600 dolphins – the largest radical size ever reported .
Typically , investigator say they wait big groups to be encounter in open , deeper water and small grouping to hang up out in shallower , coastal protect arena . But that ’s not the character here .
research worker have been studying the superpods since 2014 at three site in South Africa . A full of180 surveysrecorded almost 20,000 dolphins in Algoa Bay and just 4,444 along the Wild Coast .
This late fount has scientist stumped , who say the reason for the maturation in seedpod is amysteryand require further inquiry .
Typically , dolphins imprint in large chemical group when food is plentiful , when they are threatened by a predator ( like the white shark ) , or apparently forno intellect at all .
It ’s not the first time this has hap , either . In 2015 , a “ megapod ” of over 1,000 dolphin was take off the coast ofCalifornia . Two years before that , 1000 of dolphins were spotted nearSan Diego .
However , researchers say the mass pigeonholing can be venomous . More dolphins in an area means high competition for food , as well as a eminent risk of transmitting disease and parasites .
It also can help clew scientists in to a changing world . Dolphins are apex marauder and are a good meter reading of the wellness and richness of their habitats . read them can provide key information on ecosystem health because of the amount of resources they want to outride good for you .
The bottle-nosed dolphin is n’t the only cetacean to take shape superpods , either . Killer Whales also forge them off the San Juan Islands every year . In fact , whale devotee have made anannual conferenceout of it .
Considering whale and mahimahi could be associalas we are , peradventure it ’s just one big family reunion ?
