13 Main Difference between Shark and Dolphin with Similarities

Table of Contents

What is the difference between shark and dolphin?

Most of us love spending the weekend along the beach. The fin of dolphin and shark from a distance can arouse panic among many people. The majority of people do not know how to tell the difference between dolphins and sharks.

The lesson provides detailed insight into the difference between shark and dolphin with a comparison table. You can use the comparison video to get more information on these aquatic animals.

difference between shark and dolphin

What Is a Shark?

A shark is an aquatic animal that looks like fish and belongs to the class of Chondrichthyes. They are quite common in oceans but some species can survive in freshwater.

According to research, there are about 450 species present in the world. The type of fish tends to scare a lot of people who love going to the beach.

Characteristics of Sharks

They are cold-blooded fish

Have a muscular and streamlined body

Skeleton has cartilage

Have gill slits for breathing

Feed on fish, seals, and penguins.

What Is a Dolphin?

A dolphin is an aquatic mammal that belongs to Cetaceans. These aquatic mammals are quite intelligent and friendly to human beings.

They spend most of the time in the water due to the presence of many aquatic features. They are quite playful especially when they encounter human beings in the water.

Characteristics of Dolphins

Quite intelligent and playful

Show friendly behaviors to humans

Quite common in warm and tropical marine habitat

Have teeth and grey

There about 67 species of dolphin

Give birth to young ones

Comparison Chart: Shark vs Dolphin

Basic Terms	Sharks	Dolphin
Classification	Fish	Mammal
Thermoregulation	Cold-blooded	Warm-blooded
Respiration Organ	Gills	Lungs
Type of Reproduction	Ovoviviparity	viviparity
Skeleton	Made up of cartilage	Made up of bones
Teeth	Several row teeth	Single row teeth
Digestive System	Shorter intestines	Longer intestines
Behavior	Solitary hunters	Friendly to humans
Mouth	Located in the skull	Located in front of the skull
Skin	Quite rough due to denticles	Quite smooth and streamline
Intelligence	Less intelligent	Quite intelligent
Fin	Have vertical tail fin	Have horizontal tail fluke
Habitat	Cannot survive for longer in water with less salt	Can survive in rivers

Core Difference between Shark and Dolphin

Sharks are fish while dolphins are mammals

Sharks are cold-blooded while dolphin are warm-blooded

Dolphin breathe through lungs while shark breath through gills

Sharks reproduce by ovoviviparity while dolphin by viviparity reproduction type

Skeleton of shark is made up of cartilage while that of dolphin made up of bones

Sharks have several rows of teeth while dolphin has a single row of teeth

Sharks have shorter digestive system while dolphin have a longer digestive system

Sharks are solitary hunters while dolphin are friendly to humans

The mouth of sharks is located in the skull while the mouth of dolphin is in front of the skull as snout

Sharks have rough skin while dolphin have smooth skin

Sharks are less intelligent while dolphin are quite intelligent

Sharks have vertical tail fin while dolphin has a horizontal tail fluke

Dolphin can survive in the river while shark cannot survive in water with less salt

Read More: Difference between Hawk and Eagle

Comparison Video

https://youtu.be/Ldqfj4_8s3s

Summary

Sharks are fish which are natural predators while dolphin is mammals which are socially friendly. Dolphin tends to nurse babies while sharks do not nurse babies.

Read More: Difference between Wasp and Hornet

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