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. 2021 Jul 15;11(7):2107. doi: 10.3390/ani11072107

Table 3.

All-occurrence behaviors, sampled during each observation.

All-Occurrence Behavior Definition References
Fast swimming A dolphin swims at a higher speed than normal, indicated by powerful fluke strokes, riddles on its skin, or waves on the water’s surface. [24]
Jumping A dolphin performs an aerial behavior by leaping out of the water and diving headfirst. [60]
Agonistic interaction Any agonistic or aggressive behavioral events, e.g., biting, (tail) slapping, ramming, or hitting (with rostrum or fluke), between two or more individuals. [57,69]
Socio-sexual interaction All behaviors between at least two dolphins with any form of body contact in the genital area, including goosing, petting, or rubbing of the genital area. [57,68]
Regurgitation A dolphin regurgitates already swallowed fish at will. Regurgitation is indicated by the dolphin ejecting a plume of water and fish debris out of its mouth. Sometimes, whole fish are regurgitated and swallowed again. [70,71]