C. Methods of collecting food. Feeding behavior is flexible and adapted to a dolphin's particular habitat and available food resources. Dolphins do not chew their food. Usually they swallow fish whole, head first, so the spines of the fish won't catch in their throats. They break larger fish by shaking them or rubbing them on the ocean floor.
Hunting strategies are varied and diverse.
Bottlenose dolphins often cooperate when hunting and catching fish. The dolphins take turns charging through the school to feed. Bottlenose dolphins often feed in association with fishing operations. Dolphins in Texas bays frequently accompany shrimp boats. A pod of dolphins sometimes encircles a school of fish and herds them into a tight ball for feeding.