NEW BALL GAME FOR DOLPHINS

Marine biologists were amazed to see dolphins swim under jellyfish and, with a flick of their tails, shoot them out of the water.

One particularly talented mammal could flip a jellyfish six feet into the air.

Scientists believe the game goes back hundreds of thousands of years and may even explain why dolphins in captivity are so skilful with balls.

Marine expert Jonathan Easter, 23, who was studying the bottlenose dolphins at play in Cardigan Bay, West Wales, said: “They were having fun flipping barrel jellyfish about.

“They swim under the jellyfish then at the right moment flick their tail up and give it a good kick.

“They were not always accurate but when they had a direct hit the jellyfish were kicked out of the water.

“This has never been seen before and it raises more questions than answers.”

But it is highly unlikely that the jellyfish share the dolphins’ fun – many do not survive the rough treatment.