Planet Earth: Dolphins in Australia
In How Dolphins Hunt in Shallow Water, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains that shallow water is no problem for smart and skilled bottlenose dolphins. See the many strategies they have for hunting fish in just centimeters of water. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Sir David Attenborough takes you inside the most remote, extreme, and jaw-dropping corners of the planet — filmed over four years across 64 countries. Learn more.
Lesson Express
Q: What do you think is the result of food not being evenly distributed in tropical shallow seas?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention fierce competition or few apex predators.
Q: How do dolphins adapt to hunting in shallow water?
A: They ride waves into the shallows; they slap the water with their tails to stun the fish; they hydroplane to snatch fish out of shallow water.
Q: What might happen if a dolphin tries to hydroplane into shallow water without enough speed?
A: It can become stranded.
More Like This
In On the Hunt with Sea Lions, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how the sea lions of the Galapagos Islands use the rough and barren coastline to their advantage, enticing their prey into a cove. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Watch Polar Bears After Hibernation, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how a mother polar bear and her cub hunt after waking up from hibernation. Learn how a mother polar bear tries to find a seal under the ice. Watch a polar bear cub learn and play. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Opportunity for Animals as the Tides Ebb and Flow, narrator Sir David Attenborough examines how the Moon’s impact on the Earth and the tides create opportunity for animals, like the bottlenose dolphins who move into shallow waters at high tide to feast on mullets. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In On the Hunt with Sea Lions, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how the sea lions of the Galapagos Islands use the rough and barren coastline to their advantage, enticing their prey into a cove. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Watch Polar Bears After Hibernation, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how a mother polar bear and her cub hunt after waking up from hibernation. Learn how a mother polar bear tries to find a seal under the ice. Watch a polar bear cub learn and play. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In Opportunity for Animals as the Tides Ebb and Flow, narrator Sir David Attenborough examines how the Moon’s impact on the Earth and the tides create opportunity for animals, like the bottlenose dolphins who move into shallow waters at high tide to feast on mullets. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet, a definitive documentary series diving into the mysterious depths of the sea to discover the natural history of the world’s oceans and the rarely seen marine life that reside there.
In A Sea Otter Comeback, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how sea otters were hunted and almost became extinct, as well as why they are an important part of the ocean ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.