• Academic Homepage
    • Educational Development Portfolio
      • Statement of Educational Development Philosophy
      • Artifacts and Evidence
    • Teaching Dossier
      • Statement of Teaching Philosophy
    • Multiple Acts of Birding: PhD Research

Gavan P.L. Watson

A website proudly muddying the line between my private and public persona.

boto

Boto bling

March 29, 2008 by Gavan Leave a Comment

Freshwater dolphin

A recent article (hyperlink below) suggests that the male freshwater dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) that Heather and I got a chance to see in Peru this year (photographic evidence above) hold and thrash objects at the surface to “impress” females. What’s particularly interesting is this quote from the researcher:

“It’s particularly interesting that the complexity of this behavior in these dolphins is considerably greater than that in chimps,” Martin said. “Chimp males break off branches, thrash them around and make a lot of noise to show off how macho they are — bit like blokes with big motorbikes and Ferraris, I guess. Botos, however, are much more subtle, and often use their objects in what appears to be a ritualistic way.”

The complexity of the act sounds intruding.

Link

Posted in: Animals Tagged: boto, dolphins, freshwater dolphin, peru, photograph, pink river dolphin, research

About me

Gavan Watson headshot Work life? Director, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning & Associate Vice President, Teaching and Learning at Memorial University with a Ph.D. in environmental education. Home life? Father, naturalist, photographer, husband, philosopher, & member of a hybrid human-dog pack.

Latest tweets

My Tweets

Three Teaching Things

Add your email below and subscribe to an email newsletter I author.

Flickr Photos

At the eastern edgeGolden light on Topsial BeachWinter light on the Topsail BluffsVOR-DMEFrost brocadeFirst freeze
More Photos

Keyword Cloud

Academia Academic Alaska birders Birding Birds blog Conference cupe 3903 Dissertation Environmental Education ethics Flickr goals handwriting higher ed house sparrow How-to learning map migration Natural History Nature note taking ontario photograph Photography presentation reflection research Review rondeau solution spring strike Support Teaching teaching assistants Technology Toronto twitter upgrade wordpress york strike york university

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2021 Gavan P.L. Watson.

Omega WordPress Theme by ThemeHall