10 Reasons Sharks Have Dolphin-Phobia

Just like we check under our beds for monsters, sharks check for dolphins before nodding off. That's right, the toughest kids on the undersea block swim in fear of dolphins. Here, we've compiled a splash of facts to tell you why.

1.  Flexibility Gives Dolphins the Upper Fin.

   A combination of soft skin and flexible skeletal joints make it easier for dolphins to maneuver quickly in a fight against their cartilage-filled counterparts.

2.  Tail of Two Species.

   The vertical plane of shark tails limits their upward and downward mobility while the horizontal plane of dolphin tails allows for great agility and directional change for quick attacks.
   
   

3. When You Mess with the Dolphin, You Get the Snout.

   Made of very strong and thick bone, dolphin snouts are biological battering rams. Dolphins will position themselves several yards under a shark and burst upwards jabbing their snout into the soft underbelly of the shark causing serious internal injuries.

4. More than Peas in a Pod.

   Sharks are solitary predators, whereas dolphins travel in groups called pods. Whenever a member of the group is in danger from a shark, the rest of the pod rushes in to defend their buddy. 

5. Apex Prey.

   Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family and have been known to hunt great white sharks when food is scarce.
   
   

6. Full-Time Orcas, Part-Time Shark Tamers.

   Orcas have figured out several strategies to find their next dinner. Using their immensely strong tail flukes, orcas slap their prey with such intensity that their prey are momentarily stunned which makes them easy pickings. Orcas have also been known to grab a shark in their jaws to flip them on their back, rendering them immobile in a trance called tonic immobility. After that, it's a docile buffet for the orcas.

7. Baby Dolphins and Big Consequences.

   Sharks have a taste for anything smaller than themselves. This can include vulnerable baby dolphins, known as calves. When a shark chooses to pursue a calf, they also choose to be attacked by a pod of angry dolphins.
   
   

8. You Can't Spell Dolphin without PhD.

   Sharks vs dolphins is a classic battle of brawns vs brains. Dolphins' biggest advantage over sharks' strength is their intelligence. Using echolocation, Dolphins can quickly navigate through water to avoid or attack sharks.

9. Bite Me If You Can.

   Known to be stealthy hunters, sharks' best chance to take down a dolphin is when it's unaware or in a blind spot. However, if the first attempt is not successful, the dolphin can easily escape or regroup to combat the shark with the rest of the pod.

10. Faster Food.

    To compliment dolphins' superior intelligence is their incredible speed. They can swim faster than most shark species making them an elusive meal not worth the chase.