• Question: I have heard that dolphins can kill sharks, is it true?

    Asked by tashacamilleri to Valeria on 11 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Valeria Senigaglia

      Valeria Senigaglia answered on 11 Jun 2012:

      Hi tashacamilleri,
      yes it’s true. Shark’s belly is morbid and so vulnerable. To defend themselves dolphins can hit the shark belly with their rostrum (the final part of the dolphin face, where the mouth is). The rostrum has bones inside (the jaws) so is very hard, dolphins can swim under the shark and with a powerful stroke of their tails they hit the shark’s belly with the rostrum and this can damage the shark’s internal organs.
      However different dolphins have different anti predatory (defense) techniques and most of them try to avoid the fight because even if they win and kill the sharks they might get hurt in the fight.

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