Natural predators include certain large shark species such as tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier), dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus), bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), and great white sharks (Carcharhinus carcharias). In Sarasota Bay, Florida, about 31% of dolphins have shark bite scars.
Sharks are major predators of dolphins in some parts of the world such as the Sarasota, Florida community, where one third of the dolphins have scars from shark bites, and dolphins living in coastal waters in Australia.
Dolphins face many threats including entanglement in fishing gear, ocean pollution, habitat loss and climate change. Ocean noise pollution from human activity like commercial shipping and military sonar poses another serious threat to the beloved marine mammal.
Predators of Dolphins
Dolphins are apex predators, meaning that they are at the top of the food chain in our oceans and there are not many animals that prey upon them.
In conclusion, the combination of dolphins' intelligence, physical abilities, and social structure, as well as their potential to produce an electrical field, makes them formidable predators in the ocean, and this is why sharks are often so afraid of them.
A shark would win in a fight against a dolphin. They are faster, larger, and more attuned to predation than others. Furthermore, their mouths are actually large enough to bite down on a dolphin and deal fatal damage.
Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) aren't the only marine mammals that have snacked on a shark. The sperm whale is a marine mammal that is considered an apex predator in certain habitats and it has been recorded as having eaten shark eggs.
Looking at all populations, orcas are generalist eaters, consuming fish, seals and sea lions, dolphins and porpoises, sharks and rays, large whales, cephalopods (octopods and squids), seabirds and more. However, some orcas specialise on specific prey, and it turns out orcas are picky eaters!
Dolphins have few natural enemies and some species or specific populations have none. The only predators that the smaller species or calves have in the ocean are the larger species of sharks, such as the bull shark, dusky shark, tiger shark and great white shark.
In reality, dolphins have saved humans on many occasions. In two (sort of) similar incidents, one in 2004 and one in 2007, pods of dolphins circled imperiled surfers for over thirty minutes in order to ward off aggressive great white sharks.
SWTD programs have reported human injuries including lacerations, tooth rakes, internal injuries, broken bones, and shock. There is the potential for dolphins to suffer from unnatural exposure to human bacterial and viral infections, and they have experienced stress-related conditions, including ulcers.
Whether massive or petite, all oceanic and water-dwelling wildlife, dolphins' greatest predator is the human being. Between hunting, fishing, and water pollution that destroys the ecosystem and plastic filling the oceans, the conservation of dolphins, cetaceans, and marine life is more important than ever.
Sharks prefer to avoid dolphins. Dolphins are mammals that live in pods and are very clever. They know how to protect themselves. When they see an aggressive shark, they immediately attack it with the whole pod.
Dolphins are known to be particularly vicious animals that harass other animals, like porpoises.
Sharks have been known to attack humans when they are confused or curious. If a shark sees a human splashing in the water, it may try to investigate, leading to an accidental attack. Still, sharks have more to fear from humans than we do of them.
Dolphins eat a variety of fish, squid, shrimps, jellyfish and octopuses. The types of fish and other creatures dolphins eat depend on the species of dolphin, where the dolphins live and the wildlife that shares their habitats.
Fastest marine mammal
In an Olympic sprint, the common dolphin would have some stiff competition, with the orca and Dell's porpoise hot on their heels, reaching maximum speeds of 56 km/h (34.8 mph) and 55 km/h (34.17 mph) respectively.
As ice formed at the poles and the sea level dropped, these pupping grounds would have been destroyed. A study from 2022 suggests that competition with great white sharks for food may also have contributed to megalodon's downfall. Studies of fossilised megalodon and great white teeth show that their diets overlapped.
1. Great White Shark. Great white sharks are the most aggressive sharks in the world has recorded 333 attacks on humans, with 52 of them being fatal. The inclusion of this particular species probably comes as no surprise since movies, particularly Jaws, and television shows are quick to show their aggression.
Human Encounters. Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.