Scientists have observed an interested behavior in Australian humpback dolphins, the males present “gifts” to females during courtship. The gifts are primarily sponges, ornate ones, that they often toss to prospective mates. The behavior was observed on 17 separate occasions in 5 separate dolphin pods. The study was conducted over the course of ten years.

This is what study leader Simon Allen of the University of Western Australia in Perth had to say about the behavior:

“A display to impress a female is not unusual, but using an object in that display is very unusual”

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