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Two Bolivian river dolphins were seen swimming around and playing in the Tijamuchi River in Bolivia.
The unusual part? They were carrying a Beni anaconda, an apex predator, in their mouths.
Researchers captured the rare encounter in August 2021 in photos and described it in a paper published last month in the journal Ecology.
The research team spotted a group of dolphins immediately upon arriving to the site and began taking photos.
Only when they reviewed their first images did they realize the dolphins were carrying the snake, according to the study.
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.
At one point, they observed the adult males each holding onto the anaconda and swimming in unison.
Upon reviewing the photos later, the researchers realized the dolphins had erect penises, which also supported the idea that it was a playful interaction.
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.
The researchers said many questions remained and offered possible alternative explanations for the behavior, including predation...........
The unusual part? They were carrying a Beni anaconda, an apex predator, in their mouths.
Researchers captured the rare encounter in August 2021 in photos and described it in a paper published last month in the journal Ecology.
The research team spotted a group of dolphins immediately upon arriving to the site and began taking photos.
Only when they reviewed their first images did they realize the dolphins were carrying the snake, according to the study.
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.
At one point, they observed the adult males each holding onto the anaconda and swimming in unison.
Upon reviewing the photos later, the researchers realized the dolphins had erect penises, which also supported the idea that it was a playful interaction.
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.
The researchers said many questions remained and offered possible alternative explanations for the behavior, including predation...........
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