| Great White Shark | Dolphin |
|---|---|
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| Wins 85.90% of 1k fights | Wins 14.10% of 1k fights |
This week's Fantasy Brawl takes place in the ocean with two of the most efficient hunters to ever swim: the ferocious Great White Shark and the unassuming but deadly Bottlenose Dolphin. Both animals are powerful, fast, and highly effective hunters, but who would swim away alive if the two ever met in a one-on-one bout? Let's find out! To make this fair, we'll pit the largest of each species against one another: the Bottlenose Dolphin and the Great White Shark.
Normally, we start with a size comparison, but it's a given that the 20+ foot Great White is much larger than any dolphin species (excluding the Orca). So instead, we'll begin with a comparison of speed.
A Bottlenose Dolphin can reach speeds of about 25 miles per hour, while the Great White Shark tops out at 35 miles per hour in short bursts. In a straight-line sprint over a short distance, the shark has the edge. However, when it comes to long distances and agility, the Bottlenose Dolphin outclasses the shark by a wide margin.
So, in raw speed, the shark wins in short bursts. But over a long, drawn-out battle, the dolphin's agility and endurance give it the upper hand. When it comes to speed, both animals are nearly tied. Let's see which of these aquatic athletes has the stronger bite force.
A Bottlenose Dolphin has a bite force of about 300 psi, which is enough to handle its usual prey. But the Great White, as you might guess, has a far superior bite force—over 4,000 psi. This means that if the dolphin finds itself in the jaws of a Great White, it's game over. So, while dolphins are clever, the shark easily wins in the bite force department. But are sharks more aggressive? Let's find out.
Dolphins, especially Bottlenose Dolphins, are incredibly intelligent and often show aggressive behavior, both within their pods and toward smaller animals like porpoises. What makes this more concerning is that dolphins often seem to attack not for food, but for sport. Dolphins have been observed raking their teeth across porpoises, ramming them, and tossing them out of the water—all seemingly for fun.
Sharks, on the other hand, are far less cruel. They don't attack other creatures for enjoyment. When a shark hunts, it's purely for survival. Great Whites are fascinatingly simple in this regard—they just want to eat, rest, and stay undisturbed. They're not interested in unnecessary violence.
This means that dolphins are actually more aggressive and, in some ways, crueler than sharks. While sharks attack only when it's time to eat, dolphins often use violence as a form of entertainment or dominance.
When it comes to aggression and senseless violence, the dolphin takes the edge. But before we jump into the fight, let's cover some helpful tips that could save your life in the ocean. Since both sharks and dolphins have similar-looking dorsal fins, it can be difficult to tell the difference between friend and foe.
The main difference between a shark's dorsal fin and a dolphin's is the shape. Dolphins have more curved, friendlier-looking dorsal fins, while sharks' dorsal fins are more triangular, resembling a Dorito chip. You'll also rarely see a single dolphin; they usually travel in pods. So, if you see a single dorsal fin, chances are it's a shark.
In the Fantasy Brawl Ocean below, we see two dorsal fins—one belongs to the mighty Great White Shark, and the other to the cunning Bottlenose Dolphin. Let's find out who swims away alive from this encounter.
In this scenario, the dolphin is alone, without the support of its pod (which would otherwise give it a major advantage), and it encounters a hungry Great White. The dolphin senses the danger and immediately charges at the shark's gills with its beak, stunning the larger predator. The shark retaliates but misses due to the dolphin's agility.
The dolphin makes another attempt to strike, but this time it miscalculates, and the shark seizes the opportunity, biting off one of the dolphin's flippers. With one flipper gone, the dolphin can no longer evade the shark, which quickly finishes the battle with a decisive bite.
In this bout, the Great White Shark claims victory. The dolphin was smarter and more agile, but without its pod, it couldn't overcome the raw power of the shark. If you want to see more oceanic battles and find out if the shark is truly the top predator, check out the Orca vs Great White Shark battle.
Posted by: Matt Irving on 10/20/2024
