Despite similarities, there is a great difference between sharks and dolphins. To point out these differences, one needs to have a deeper study of their anatomy and keen eyes to analyze physical features. Shape and color are shark and dolphin common similarities that can easily confuse the observer.
But you may not know the major differences between sharks and dolphins. This article will help you understand those differences easily. So next time, if you are going to see a shark or dolphin, you will be able to tell them apart. Read until the end to get your confusion cleared.
You can read some surprising facts about sharks afraid of Dolphins.
Difference in Body Features
There are many structural differences between sharks and dolphins. Those differences can easily be marked by anyone.
Key differences between sharks and dolphins are mentioned below.
Sharks Body Feature
Sharks are like fish so they have gills on the side of their bodies. Gills help the sharks to breathe. Sharks body structure the tail and fins are in the vertical direction. The shark moves side-by-side which helps them to swim. Sharks have pectoral fins. Sharks use their teeth to chew.
Dolphins Body Feature
Dolphins have the Blowhole on their head. A blowhole helps the dolphin to breathe. Dolphin tails in the horizontal direction by moving up and down helps them to swim. Dolphins do not use their teeth to chew.
Shark and Dolphin are different due to many physical features as well as characteristics.
Shark vs. Dolphin tail
The tail of the majority of fish is made up of the fleshy part known as the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin, which is the thin piece that is supported by fin rays.
The tail is used for side-to-side motion. It is also used for the propulsive power to move the fish from one place to another place.
Shark and dolphin has some differences in their tail.
Dolphin tail
The dolphin has a horizontal tail and is upside down for swimming. The dorsal fin of a dolphin is called a fluke. Fluke is used for motion and communication.
The dolphin fin is more like the rudder on the boat. The dolphin’s tail is used for thrust through the water. The tail of dolphins can drive them more than 34 kilometers per hour. There are no bones in dolphin fluke only made of connective tissues.
Shark tail
The shark fin is similar to the triangular shape. The tail of the shark is also called the caudal fin. Shark tail fins are vertical and they use them to go through the motion.
The tail is used for side-to-side motion. The shark can rotate their tails approximately 30 degrees side by side to swim. The caudal fin provides the main thrust to the shark to swim.
Shark and Dolphin Species
A species is a collective of plants, animals as well as other organisms that have common traits and can be classified as similar in some way.
Shark Species
Sharks are not mammals but they belong to the teleost fish. In the most important respect, sharks do not fit the criteria of mammals. Most of the sharks are cold-blooded. They do not have hairs on the skin and do not produce milk.
The only similarity of sharks with mammals is that they give live birth. Sharks are members of the fish family. Sharks have the same body type of mammals and size. Some people think the shark is similar to other mammals like dolphins and whales due to its body size.
Sharks do not have mammary glands and are not able to feed their young ones. Based on the quality they are disqualified from the mammal’s class. Sharks do not use their lungs for respiratory purposes; they can use their gills for breathing. All the species of sharks in the fish family.
We can simply classify mammals. If its tail is vertical then it is a fish and if its tail is horizontal then it is a mammal.
Dolphin Species
Dolphins have symptoms like mammals. They are warm-blooded which is different than the fish. They also breathe using their lungs while the fish breathe air through their gills.
Dolphins have to come to the surface in a short time to take the air. That’s why we see dolphins jumping over the surface of the water.
Another symptom that makes dolphin mammals is that they give birth like mammals. They don’t lay eggs like other fishes. Also, they feed milk to their child.
There are many symptoms that make a dolphin a mammal.
Shark vs Dolphin fin
Sharks are predators they swim alone, but dolphins in pods. One can easily notice whether it’s a shark or a dolphin near him in an ocean.
But the similar shape of fins makes it difficult to analyze most of the time. Here are some distinctive key points to know which animal is swimming around you.
Dolphin fin
Dolphin fins have an arch in them, an arch is on the backside of the dolphin fin. The dolphin just has one fin. The Dolphin fin moves in the same direction as the dolphin swims.
Shark fin
Sharks have 2 fins. One is caudal and the other one is dorsal. The caudal always remains inside the water surface while the dorsal comes out of the water.
Only a small portion of the dorsal comes out. Sharks are nothing more than playful. The shark dorsal is straight at the back of the animal.
Shark vs. Dolphin Similarities
Dolphin and shark both have fins. Both the sharks and the dolphins are opportunists. They eat whatever is available and easy to catch. Both sharks and dolphins can eat fish, shrimp, and squids. The sharks and dolphins look alike because nature selected the same shape overall.
Both have a body shape that is less resistant to water and can swim fast. Dolphins have the same traits as sharks. Their bodies including fins and flippers are analogous. Both are aquatic vertebrates. Dolphins and sharks return to water because of the aquatic water layout body.
These were similarities and differences between sharks and dolphins. They do look similar due to their shape, and color but they are far apart from each other, not only due to physical features but also their behavior is poles apart.
One is a predatory beast while the other is social & friendly. They may eat similarly but they treat differently; to humans as well as their surrounding creatures. To discuss this difference on a giant level read our next article KILLER WHALE VS. GREAT WHITE SHARK.