A common bottlenose dolphin, nicknamed Bubbles, has been observed using a unique feeding strategy known as kleptoparasitism, according to researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Kleptoparasitism refers to the act of stealing food from another animal, and this behavior has now been documented in a cetacean for the first time. The study, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, details how Bubbles harasses fish until they regurgitate their food, which he then eats. This unusual method was recorded between 2021 and 2025 in the shallow reefs near Lady Elliot Island, part of the southern Great Barrier Reef. During these observations, Bubbles targeted a school of bigeye trevally, chasing individual fish until they expelled their food. After the fish regurgitated, Bubbles consumed the expelled remains as the fish swam away. Researchers believe Bubbles may have learned to focus on fish with the fullest stomachs for more rewarding meals. They also suggest that Bubbles might use intense, repeated clicking and low-pitched vocalizations to increase the fish's stress levels, prompting them to regurgitate. Typically, common bottlenose dolphins forage in groups, but Bubbles was seen foraging alone. The researchers believe this specialized feeding strategy may be more energy-efficient than chasing fast-moving prey, especially when foraging on his own. However, the study raises questions about whether this behavior is common among dolphins or if it is an isolated case. They suggest that behaviors like kleptoparasitism may be underreported in dolphins and other cetaceans due to the challenges of observing such behaviors in the wild. To better understand the full range of dolphin behaviors, researchers propose using emerging technologies like drones in combination with traditional underwater surveys. They also note that the public perception of dolphins as playful and friendly may be influenced by anthropomorphism—the tendency to attribute human-like traits to animals. In reality, dolphins are predators who actively hunt their prey, whether they have stolen the food from another animal or not. This study adds to the growing understanding of the complexity and diversity of dolphin behavior in their natural environments.