Male bottlenose dolphin juvenile social play predicts adult reproductive success, according to a study by Bristol and Western Australia universities.
Male bottlenose dolphins engage in social play to hone their mating skills years before they mature, according to a study by the University of Bristol and the University of Western Australia. Researchers discovered that young dolphins who form strong social bonds, mimicking adult-like mating behaviors, are more likely to father offspring as adults. The study provides rare evidence linking juvenile social play to reproductive success in a wild animal.
June 10, 2024
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