The researchers said it was also possible the adult male dolphins were teaching the juvenile dolphins that were present about the Beni anaconda, or that the dolphins were engaged in an attempt at courtship. Other than one record of cannibalism, there's no published record of an animal eating a Beni anaconda.īecause the snake was submerged for much of the encounter, the researchers said it most likely died. Nature animals River Dolphins Get Weird With Anaconda Who Don't Want None, But Gets Some Anyway Rachael Funnell Digital Content Producer 5:47 AM Shares Close inspection of the play. īeni anacondas are large semi-aquatic snakes, generally reaching more than 6 feet long, and typically have no known predators. M Entiauspe Neto, Omar Reichle, Steffen Rios, Alejandro dos (2022). The researchers said many questions remained and offered possible alternative explanations for the behavior, including predation.Ī case of playful interaction between Bolivian River Dolphins with a Beni Anaconda. Playing is a well-documented behavior in mammals and dolphins generally, but the encounter was the first-ever recorded between a Bolivian river dolphin and a Beni anaconda.
Upon reviewing the photos later, the researchers realized the dolphins had erect penises, which also supported the idea that it was a playful interaction. The researchers said it became clear the dolphins were playing with the snake rather than trying to eat it, in part because the interaction lasted for at least seven minutes.Īt one point, they observed the adult males each holding onto the anaconda and swimming in unison. Only when they reviewed their first images did they realize the dolphins were carrying the snake, according to the study.
The research team spotted a group of dolphins immediately upon arriving to the site and began taking photos. Researchers captured the rare encounter in August 2021 in photos and described it in a paper published last month in the journal Ecology. The unusual part? They were carrying a Beni anaconda, an apex predator, in their mouths. Two Bolivian river dolphins were seen swimming around and playing in the Tijamuchi River in Bolivia.
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