Just like we check under our beds for monsters, sharks check for dolphins before nodding off. That’s right, the toughest kids on the undersea block swim in fear of dolphins. Here, we’ve compiled a splash of facts to tell you why.
Flexibility Gives Dolphins the Upper Fin.
Dolphins have some advantages over sharks due to the way their bodies is built A combination of soft skin and flexible skeletal joints make it easier for dolphins to manoeuvre quickly in a fight against their cartilage-filled counterparts.
Tail of Two Species.
Made of very strong and thick bone, dolphin snouts act as biological battering rams. Dolphins will position themselves several yards under a shark and burst upwards jabbing their snout into the soft underbelly of the shark causing serious internal injuries.
Apex Prey
There are one species of dolphins in particular that scare sharks the most- it’s the killer whale. They are the biggest representative of dolphins and they hunt for sharks when they don’t have enough food. Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family and have been known to hunt great white sharks when food is scarce.
Full-Time Orcas, Part-Time Shark Tamers.
Proving a basic knowledge of shark biology. Orcas use their immensely strong tail fins to flip sharks on their back, rendering them immobile. After that, it’s a docile buffet for the Orcas. This is why white sharks prefer to flee from killer whales immediately as the latter is especially interested in eating their liver. With extreme precision, the killer whale takes out their liver and throw away the rest of the body. No wonder sharks are afraid of them.
Baby Dolphins and Big Consequences.
Sharks have a taste for anything smaller than themselves, which includes vulnerable baby dolphins. When a shark chooses to attack a baby dolphin, they also choose to be attacked by a pod of angry dolphins.
You Can’t Spell Dolphin without PhD.
Sharks vs dolphins is a classic battle of brawns vs brains. Dolphins’ biggest advantage over sharks’ strength is their intelligence. Using echolocation, dolphins can quickly navigate through the water to avoid or attack sharks.
Bite Me If You Can.
Known to be stealthy hunters, sharks’ best chance to take down a dolphin is when it’s unaware or in a blind spot. However, if the first attempt is not successful, the dolphin can easily escape or regroup to combat the shark with the rest of the pod.
Faster Food.
To complement their superior intelligence dolphins are incredibly fast. They can swim faster than most shark species making them hard to catch and not worth the chase.
Whether you’re team dolphin or team shark, both are incredible species that roam our oceans.
