{"id":41972,"date":"2024-09-10T17:43:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T15:43:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a3f7e68b-7a46-4cbf-80d3-5bbc8d5690d0"},"modified":"2024-09-10T18:27:32","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T16:27:32","slug":"dolphin-vs-shark-whats-the-difference-between-these-charismatic-ocean-dwellers","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/dolphin-vs-shark-whats-the-difference-between-these-charismatic-ocean-dwellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolphin vs shark: what’s the difference between these charismatic ocean dwellers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s the difference between a shark and a dolphin? The experts at Whale and Dolphin Conservation explains what makes a dolphin a dolphin and a shark a shark <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 10 September 2024 at 15:43 PM<\/p>

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Dolphins and sharks captivate us for entirely different reasons, yet this shared fascination has made them two of the most closely studied creatures in the ocean.<\/strong><\/p>

Despite their\u00a0similar marine\u00a0habitats\u00a0and occasionally being mistaken for one another by the untrained eye, dolphins and sharks are fundamentally different in several ways, not least in the contrasting way we humans perceive them. <\/p>

More than Jaws: 34 incredible, hard to believe shark facts that celebrate this fascinating, yet much-maligned fish<\/a><\/li>
Whale vs dolphin: what’s the difference between these mysterious denizens of the ocean?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Sharks suffer\u00a0from undeserved bad PR, driven partly by the\u00a01970\u2019s\u00a0film\u00a0\u2018Jaws\u2019.\u00a0Sharks may\u00a0be depicted as sinister whereas dolphins are\u00a0often\u00a0perceived\u00a0as cute. If either were to pop up whilst you were in the water, then your reaction\u00a0to each\u00a0might be\u00a0very\u00a0different.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>
What’s the difference between sharks and dolphins?<\/h2>
Basking shark. Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Biologically, the most obvious contrast is that dolphins are mammals\u00a0and\u00a0share characteristics with\u00a0humans, including being\u00a0warm-blooded,\u00a0giving birth to\u00a0live\u00a0young, and nursing their young with milk.\u00a0Sharks, on the other hand,\u00a0are fish.\u00a0<\/p>
In terms of physiology, sharks extract oxygen from water using gills<\/a> located on the sides of their\u00a0body behind the\u00a0head, allowing them to stay submerged indefinitely.\u00a0<\/p>
Dolphins breathe air\u00a0when at the surface of the water,\u00a0through a\u00a0specially adapted nostril or blowhole<\/a>, \u00a0located on top of their heads.\u00a0<\/p>
Why whales and dolphins don’t suffer from the bends<\/a><\/li>
Why do whales explode?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Sharks\u00a0have a\u00a0cartilaginous\u00a0rather than a bony skeleton,\u00a0which is\u00a0made of\u00a0a strong, flexible connective tissue called cartilage, which is also found in humans (in our\u00a0ears and noses).Whilst\u00a0it is not\u00a0recommended that you touch either, if you did you would find that dolphin skin feels smooth and rubbery, whilst a shark\u2019s\u00a0skin\u00a0has small rough scales called denticles, which\u00a0allow them to move efficiently through water by reducing drag.<\/p>
Do sharks give birth to live young like dolphins?<\/h2>
As mammals,\u00a0dolphins give birth\u00a0to live young, which they feed\u00a0and\u00a0nurture\u00a0for extended periods.\u00a0Some sharks\u00a0can give birth in a similar way\u00a0to mammals, while other\u00a0species\u00a0lay\u00a0eggs \u2013 some hatching\u00a0within the mother\u2019s body, while others are encased and develop inside a tough leathery\u00a0egg case\u00a0(sometimes known as a mermaid\u2019s purse).<\/p>
How intelligent are sharks compared to dolphins?<\/h2>
Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
When it comes to behavioural and social structure, there are marked differences between dolphins<\/a> who are\u00a0<\/strong>known for their high intelligence, complex social behaviours\u00a0(including cooperative hunting, play, and communication), and sharks who are often solitary and\u00a0generally do not display the same level of social interaction and cooperation seen in dolphin pods.\u00a0Dolphins will tend to form groups or pods – sometimes even megapods where hundreds or thousands of individuals\u00a0may\u00a0come together to travel or\u00a0feed.<\/p>
How do dolphins sleep?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Dolphins’\u00a0communication skills\u00a0are very\u00a0sophisticated.\u00a0By\u00a0emitting sound waves that bounce off objects and return to them\u00a0(echolocation<\/a>) a dolphin can gather\u00a0information about the surrounding environment to accurately\u00a0navigate and hunt.\u00a0A dolphin pod will also\u00a0communicate with each other using a range of vocalisations and physical behaviours.\u00a0Sharks on the other hand\u00a0rely primarily on their acute senses for hunting and navigation, and their communication\u00a0is not thought to be as\u00a0complex as that of dolphins.<\/p>
Do dolphins and sharks share the same diet?<\/h2>
Dolphins feeding. Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Both sharks and\u00a0dolphins are\u00a0 apex predators<\/a>, and so are crucial to marine food chains and ecosystems. Dolphins,\u00a0feeding on fish, squid, and crustaceans,\u00a0can\u00a0employ\u00a0teamwork and\u00a0strategies like herding fish into tight balls for easier capture,\u00a0or using tools like sponges to protect their\u00a0noses\u00a0while foraging on the seafloor.\u00a0Sharks\u00a0will prey on\u00a0fish, seals, crustaceans, and even other sharks.\u00a0They rely on stealth, speed, and their keen senses to detect prey.<\/p>
\u201cTo rip off the tail only took a minute.” Insane drone footage captures shark eating another shark in Florida <\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Some species are known for their powerful jaws and multiple rows of teeth, which they use to tear apart their prey.\u00a0Dolphins and sharks\u00a0play a\u00a0vital\u00a0role\u00a0in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, regulating prey\u00a0populations\u00a0to\u00a0help maintain\u00a0ocean\u00a0diversity.<\/p>
How many teeth does a great white shark have? A guide to its deadly, razor-sharp gnashers<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Do sharks and dolphins face the same threats?<\/h2>
Sadly, one similarity between sharks and dolphins is that both face numerous threats from human activities, including habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing.\u00a0<\/p>
Bycatch (accidental capture in nets and fishing gear) is the biggest single killer of dolphins\u00a0and sharks are also severely impacted. <\/p>
Many shark species are targeted for their fins, which are highly valued in some cultures.\u00a0It is very important that we\u00a0reduce the threat from harmful fishing practices, better\u00a0protect the habitats\u00a0of these key marine\u00a0species,\u00a0and raise\u00a0public awareness about their importance to\u00a0ocean health. <\/p>
A healthy ocean is vital in our fight against climate breakdown.\u00a0By protecting both dolphins and sharks, we\u00a0are\u00a0helping to protect\u00a0the planet and\u00a0ourselves.\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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