Why are dolphins the nemesis of sharks?

You may have heard that dolphins are sharks' natural enemies, and sometimes they will attack sharks to protect themselves and their companions. Is this true? Why do dolphins challenge sharks? How do sharks deal with the threat of dolphins? This article will reveal the answers to these questions and let you understand the thrilling duel between dolphins and sharks.

1. What are the advantages of dolphins?

Dolphins are highly intelligent mammals with complex social structures and communication methods. Dolphins usually live in groups, cooperating and protecting each other. When faced with the threat of sharks, dolphins will form a tight formation to cover each other and even use their bodies to block the injured parts of their companions to prevent bleeding and attract more sharks.

In addition to unity, dolphins have other advantages. First, dolphins are more flexible and agile than sharks. They can make various rapid turns and speed changes in the water, making it difficult for sharks to keep up. Second, dolphins have a strong ability to echolocate. They can detect the surrounding environment and targets by emitting ultrasonic waves. Even in turbulent water or dim light, they can accurately locate the position of sharks. Finally, dolphins have strong heads and sharp teeth. They can use their heads to hit the abdomen or gills of sharks, causing serious internal injuries or suffocation.

2. What are the disadvantages of sharks?

In contrast, sharks are relatively weak when confronting dolphins. Although sharks are also very intelligent and adaptable animals, they usually act alone or in small groups, lacking the teamwork and mutual assistance spirit of dolphins. When faced with dolphin siege, it is difficult for sharks to get support from their companions.

In addition, sharks have some physiological defects. First, sharks' eyesight is not very good. They mainly rely on their sense of smell and electroreceptors to find prey and judge directions. However, blood or other substances flowing in the water will interfere with their sense of smell, and the ultrasonic waves emitted by dolphins will interfere with their electroreceptors. Secondly, sharks' bodies are relatively stiff and bulky, and they need to swim constantly to maintain balance and breathe. If they are hit or bitten by dolphins, they can easily lose balance or suffocate. Finally, sharks have a fatal weakness: their liver. The liver is the largest organ in the shark's body, occupying most of the abdominal cavity space, and is responsible for storing energy and regulating buoyancy. However, the liver is also very fragile. Once it is hit hard, it will rupture and bleed, causing the shark's death.

3. How often do the Dolphins and Sharks face off?

Although a confrontation between dolphins and sharks sounds thrilling, it doesn't happen very often. Generally speaking, dolphins and sharks try to avoid unnecessary conflicts and only engage in attack and defense when necessary. For example, when a dolphin's territory or companions are invaded by a shark, or when a shark's food or safety is threatened by a dolphin, a confrontation between the two sides will be triggered.

According to scientists' observations and records, confrontations between dolphins and sharks mainly occur in the following situations:

When dolphins encounter large carnivorous sharks such as great white sharks or tiger sharks, they will actively attack as a deterrent and warning to prevent themselves from being taken as prey.

When dolphins encounter small or medium-sized sharks, they sometimes ignore them, sometimes play with them, and sometimes drive them away.

4. Is it possible for dolphins and sharks to coexist peacefully?

From the above analysis, we can see that dolphins and sharks are not always in a state of hostility, and they also have the ability to respect and adapt to each other. In fact, in some special environments, dolphins and sharks can even coexist peacefully and even form a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

For example, there is a diving spot called Aliwal Shoal off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see dolphins and sharks at the same time. From July to November every year, a large number of sardines gather here. Sardines are a common food source for dolphins and sharks. Therefore, during this season, hundreds of different species of dolphins and thousands of different species of sharks will appear here. They will forget their hostility and enjoy this feast together.