You might envision dolphins as the cool, young cousin of the humpback whale, but it appears these two species are forming some budding friendships after all.

In fact, new footage captured by a suction camera reveals the lengths a dolphin will go to befriend its marine companions. The whales are accompanied by bottlenose dolphins as they swim from the sunlit surface down to the seabed, engaging in playful activities side by side.

Social interactions between whales and dolphins are seldom explored. Recent research from Griffith University in Australia has shown that these species often engage in friendly play.

The study, led by Dr. Olaf Meinecke, the leader of Griffith University’s Whale & Climate Program, analyzed 199 individual interactions captured on camera and film by the public, tourism operators, and scientists across 17 locations worldwide. The footage featured 19 species, including humpback and fin whales, as well as bottlenose and white-sided dolphins in the Pacific Ocean.

Meynecke found that a quarter of these interactions could be deemed mutually engaging. Most of the others at least exhibited friendly acknowledgment, rather than avoidance.

“Most of the observed interactions demonstrated no avoidance behavior,” Meynecke explained.

Humpback whales particularly stand out for their friendliness towards dolphins, with a third of their interactions being classified as positive.

“The humpback whales were rolling from side to side, displaying belly presentations, and engaging in other behaviors indicative of courtship and friendly socialization,” said Meynecke. They were the least likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors toward dolphins, such as tail slaps or other percussive actions.

The most frequent interaction observed involved dolphins cruising close to the whale’s snout or beak.

This behavior serves as a free ride, demonstrating a strategy to save energy while perhaps indulging a dolphin’s playful spirit.

“Behavioral studies of marine mammals like these offer valuable insights into their intricate social structures and are crucial for enhancing our understanding of marine ecosystems and the interactions between species,” Meynecke noted.

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