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Can Dolphins Kill Sharks?

Yes, dolphins can and have been known to kill sharks. As many know, dolphins and sharks inhabit the same regions and depths of the ocean. Sharks have a reputation for being fierce predators, and are armed with rows of sharp nasty teeth that help them bite through flesh and bone with ease. They also have very tough, sandpaper- like skin that is not easily punctured. Whereas dolphins are often viewed as the intelligent, playful, friendly mammals with only a single row of peg-like teeth used mainly for catching smaller fish. Their skin, unlike the sharks is soft and flexible and can be punctured easily. Dolphins surprisingly, have however often been seen protecting an injured or sick member of their group or extended family, often from a shark attack. They have also at times been known to protect humans from sharks in the water and in some cases have even been known to carry a human safely to shore.

At first glance, sharks and dolphins may seem to be similar in size and shape, though sharks obviously appear to be stronger for obvious reasons already mentioned. However, when taking a closer look there are many differences in the two that can be noted and give the dolphin quite an advantage. Sharks are an ancient fish with skeletons of cartilage, where dolphins are descended from mammals that have returned to the sea and sport skeletons with hard, calcified bones. The skeletons of sharks have joints that are not as flexible as the dolphins.

It is for this reason that dolphins sometimes have the upper hand and are much swifter than sharks. They have also been known to maneuver very quickly and are very agile in the water. The tail of a shark is also different from a dolphin. A shark’s tail has a fins located on a vertical plane that move from side to side which limits its ability to quickly dive downward and /or rise upward. A dolphin’s tail however has horizontally mounted flukes that move up and down and enable a dolphin to change direction with ease, allowing it to move upward or downward with no problem.

Since dolphins normally travel together in groups, if one of the group is threatened by a shark, the other dolphins will join in without hesitation to do its best to defend the dolphin that is in danger. The dolphin’s main weapon against a shark attack is its snout, which is made up of very strong and thick bone and has a hard rounded end. The dolphins circle the shark rapidly from different directions thus confusing the shark and rendering it unable to chase any of the other dolphins.

When a dolphin is positioned below a shark at a distance of several yards, the dolphin will often make a sudden rush at the shark’s soft underbelly and ram it with its snout. The effect this has on the shark can be quite effective. It resembles a powerful punch and can seriously injure a shark with just one blow. When dolphins use this as their weapon against sharks, it often renders the shark stunned or knocks them unconscious immediately. Sometimes a dolphin will repeatedly ram a shark that has been aggressive in order to protect itself or its group, and in some cases have even been known to kill large and dangerous sharks. In most cases, even if the shark does not die as a result of the dolphin driving its snout into its underbelly, the force that it has on the shark will often leave some kind of internal damage.

Home › Mammals › Dolphins › Can Dolphins Kill Sharks?

Comments

  1. taylor kicklighter says

    January 8, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    i think dolphin can kill dolhpin.

    Reply
    • LucieeFlower says

      December 31, 2014 at 10:33 am

      Dolphins can kill sharks because they are very cuter than sharks. Sharks can’t kill dolphins because they can never be as cute as dolphins
      HTML

      Reply
      • Jessica RIvera says

        May 7, 2015 at 10:17 pm

        Ayee!!! Please kill your self!! Lol… JK NO LOL!!

        Reply
        • Heidi says

          November 23, 2015 at 9:54 am

          OMG! I LAUGH OUT LOUAD
          I love ur comment, so funny

          Reply
      • eden says

        September 28, 2015 at 9:26 pm

        After I read this passage I new that a SHARK can’t kill a DOLPHIN

        Reply
        • Anonimous says

          October 28, 2015 at 6:36 am

          It an kill one; however, it can’t kill a group of more then five. If it is a 1 vs 1 competition then the shark would win.

          Reply
          • John says

            July 24, 2016 at 10:16 pm

            No the shark will not win , Dolphin much fast then the shark and smarter.

      • Anonimous says

        October 28, 2015 at 6:35 am

        Don’t judge an animal by it’s appearence! You are a cruel miserable human being. If you are going to act like that then you should’t even exist. Don’t judge others! Treat others the way you want to be treated. You are a contemptible person. You should NOT act that way! Just so that you know the correct answer dolphins can kill sharks if they have a huge group and only one shark but if it is 1 vs 1 then the shark would win. You are contemptible!!!!!

        Reply
        • Jeremy says

          November 12, 2016 at 12:45 pm

          Bare in mind Sharks Hunt to eat., Dolphins are smarter an faster than Sharks. Therefore a dolphin can out smart and out run a shark.

          Reply
        • Desi says

          January 22, 2017 at 7:10 pm

          # Anonimous commenter;Ok,i agree with most of what u said…and i reckon there should be more people that think like u,that would save a lot of pain and suffering,ur the complete opposite of ignorant,at least in my opinion from reading ur comment;However…i disagree about if a Dolphin is alone with a Shark,the Shark will automatically win!That’s like when people choose the bigger guy to win just because of his appearance,when for all ya know,the shorter person might have more courage,which is way more outlasting than cockiness.Ya know what i mean?!

          Reply
      • Sukumar Ray says

        August 9, 2016 at 3:47 pm

        Your reply is as cute as the dolphin. Just enjoyed it !!

        Reply
      • Anonymous says

        October 5, 2017 at 12:32 pm

        Now that’s a scientific explanation! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

        Reply
      • dahszil dahsizl says

        November 3, 2017 at 7:10 pm

        that’s sweet . but don’t judge humans on cute is good and not cute is bad . a lot of not cute humans are very nice persons and many cute humans are not nice . cute or goodness is from the heart and brain and not what we look like on the outside

        Reply
    • Bob says

      July 8, 2016 at 4:18 am

      What would win?, a ferocious badger riding a shark or a pit bull riding a dolphin, the pit bull is brown (don’t know if this makes a difference?)

      Reply
    • Laura says

      March 5, 2017 at 8:37 am

      I finished reading it. 🙁 🙁

      Reply
    • Kennedy Zaloumis says

      October 3, 2018 at 3:20 pm

      I don’t know if it is possible for a bit bull to ride with a dolphin and a badger with a shark! but am sure the dolphin is faster and clever of course.

      Reply
  2. taylor kicklighter says

    January 8, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    when a dolphin is positioned below a shark at a distance.

    Reply
  3. Song Kim says

    February 20, 2014 at 10:50 am

    I think it all depends on the situation. If there 2 or 3 dolphin, then a shark will have upper hand. It can attack and kill 2-3 dolphins. A large group of dolphins such as 5 or more can repel the shark attack and a shark won’t even try to attack a large group or pod of dolphins.

    If it is a killer whale, then it is different story. Dolphins will run for their lives.

    Reply
    • Sarryl says

      January 2, 2015 at 5:10 am

      Just so we are clear…killer whales are Dolphins. They are called whales because of their size

      Reply
      • Kdub says

        August 2, 2015 at 10:17 am

        Koller whales are orcas, the black and white whale you see at SeaWorld.

        Reply
        • Anonimous says

          October 28, 2015 at 6:37 am

          OOOOOOHHHHHHH.
          TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

          Reply
        • Anonymous says

          July 25, 2017 at 8:00 am

          Orcas are dolphins, look it up. They the largest dolphin species and the top predators in the ocean, they eat great whites for fun

          Reply
    • sean says

      June 18, 2015 at 7:54 am

      false. a shark can not attack and kill 2 or 3 dolphins. maybe one, maybe, but unlikely since dolphins are MUCH faster than any shark. a shark would stand no chance against 3 dolphins at once.

      Reply
  4. Yordan says

    July 6, 2014 at 1:25 am

    Dolphins usually avoid sharks,but they can ram and kill as stated in the article.No shark actively predates dolphins,if they kill and eat a dolphin it is usually young/old/sick animal.Dolphins are faster,smarter,more agile and tougher than sharks.

    Killer whales are also dolphins and they have been known to kill and eat other dolphins and sharks ,including fully grown great whites.

    Reply
    • Bubbles says

      October 17, 2015 at 5:50 pm

      They aren’t tougher, they just group hit them. One vs one a shark will always win.

      Reply
  5. Dalipop says

    December 9, 2014 at 3:44 am

    Good to know coz I love dolphins

    Reply
  6. The shark that eats everything says

    May 17, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Everyone saying sharks are the killer animal in the ocean, It’s not true. I have a encyclopedia about sharks so i know a lot about them. I’m honestly addicted to them i have everything shark related, I learned about them I even went into the ocean with a great white. A dolphin does have a greater advantage because they are stronger and not because they are cuter or better. Sharks can’t see color so how does it know people aren’t seals. I wish people didn’t hate sharks because they honestly probably don’t know about them as well as i do. Dont take these like i’m rude or mean its the truth.

    Reply
    • John says

      July 24, 2016 at 10:42 pm

      Yes you are right, the ocean has a lot more smaller things in it that can kill a human being . Not just sharks . Im a scuba diver i have been in the water with sharks and they really don’t bother you. Most shark hunt at night Remember this anything with teeth will bite. I seen a diver feeding a moray eel , and we all know eels have razor sharp teeth right!!!! Well this eel took the divers thumb right off pop…. as human being we are more likely to be bit by a shark on the surface then at depth. Surfers and swimmers!!!!

      Reply
  7. Elvira says

    July 3, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Good when the good guy wins! Of course, a shark’s gotta eat. And belief in creation is down and evolution up but thank satan, and not God.

    Reply
  8. Less Cohran says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:45 am

    I know Dolphins can kill sharks but I thank sharks are more powerful but dolphins can kill a shark in a group who agrees?

    Reply
    • Anonimous says

      October 28, 2015 at 6:39 am

      Dolphins can kill sharks if they are in a group of more than 5. However, if they are in a group of less than that, the shark wins!

      Reply
      • Anonimous says

        October 28, 2015 at 6:39 am

        OOOHHHHHH!!!
        TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!!!!!!!!!

        Reply
    • Irineo Romero says

      February 27, 2018 at 11:47 am

      I do.

      Reply
  9. Sung kim says

    September 17, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Dolphins can’t kill sharks. It’s like say thing that a rabbit can kill a tiger. A single shark can kill more than 10 dolphins. Dolphins are weaker and smaller and slower than sharks. Not orcas but dolphins.

    Reply
    • Me says

      June 4, 2017 at 11:18 am

      WOW!! Intelligence has betrayed you!!

      Reply
  10. Bubbles says

    October 17, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    Doesn’t it also count that it’s normally about 3 dolphins vs 1 shark? I think that’s fairly important, as 1vs1 sharks have been seen to slaughter dolphins. It’s like a tanl vs a motorbike. The bike may well be MUCH faster and swifter, but it can’t actually harm the tank very much, whilst the tank can near-on one shot the bike.

    Reply
  11. Bill says

    April 27, 2016 at 11:48 am

    Hillary is a lieung scum bag. Vote for anyone else

    Reply
  12. Yahya says

    May 2, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    Dolphin are friendly but I like him but I love shark and shark will take revenge!!!!!!! I am scared from shark but I am fan of him

    Reply
  13. Drew says

    June 28, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    I love think dolphin can kill shark but also shark kill dolphin tie if unless dolphin has gun

    Reply
  14. shoaib says

    August 16, 2016 at 7:44 am

    why am I feeling like there are more Spielberg’s jaws fans than a fact finders?

    it is a fact that dolphin is the smartest animal in animal kingdom. can easily out smart the shark. dolphin has far more better vision than any other animal in the water. shark is like a sitting duck if dolphin trys to attack it! but thankfully dolphin are not aggressive and mostly trying to avoid sharks. the beast the shark is the beauty beneath the water. must understand the facts everyone……

    Reply
  15. Sam kim says

    September 5, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    Sharks eat Dolphins!! Dolphins are too weak and they are no match to sharks powerful strength!! Even a baby shark can easily prey on adult dolphins!! Some sources say that dolphins are sharks most favorite prey and some sharks only eat dolphins during entire their life.

    Reply
  16. Bsbsh says

    January 14, 2018 at 5:50 am

    Ayo dogg remember da dolphins we saw Dey torts f up this sharks G it had no chance against my homedogg dolphin aka money mike

    Reply
  17. Bob dobby dob dob says

    January 14, 2018 at 5:53 am

    This website is lame and full of lies sharks rule 2k18!!!!!!! Ps. I was bitten by one and lived

    Reply
  18. jamesha says

    February 8, 2018 at 8:11 am

    that is litt

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The definition of kind: can we get one? - Page 44 - Christian Forums says:
    August 31, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    […] and have done so. Even one blow to the shark's stomach from a doplhin will cause internal damage. Can Dolphins Kill Sharks? __________________ "Yes, thank God belief in creation is down and evolution is up as well as […]

    Reply

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