Do sharks eat dolphins?
Quick Answer
Sharks eat dolphins. Because dolphins form protective circles around the weakest members of their pods and mount attacks against any threats, only the largest sharks attempt to eat dolphins.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Dolphins are close to the top of the food chain. Their main predator in the ocean is the shark, but many sharks and other potential predators avoid dolphins due to dolphins' aggressive defenses. Dolphins are capable of killing sharks. Killer whales have been found with dolphin remains in their stomachs, but as of 2014, it is not known whether they actively attack dolphins or scavenge their remains.
Humans are the primary predators of dolphins. People in Japan, Latin America and other parts of the world consider dolphins a food source. Because dolphins prey on fish that humans catch and eat, fishermen often kill dolphins to keep dolphins from interfering with their catch. Dolphins are also sometimes killed when they unintentionally become entangled in fishing nets.
Learn more about SharksRelated Questions
-
Q:
Why do great white sharks eat killer whales?
A: Great white sharks do not eat killer whales, and it is, in fact, the other way around. Research has shown that the screams of killer whales have been known... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Do sharks lay eggs?
A: Around 40 percent of the more than 400 species of sharks lay eggs. These eggs may develop fully or partially in the mother, or they may be laid by the moth... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the difference between male and female sharks?
A: Male and female sharks differ in that male sharks have modified pelvic fins called claspers, while female sharks do not. Furthermore, male sharks have test... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How long does a great white shark live?
A: Great white sharks have a lifespan of 30 to over 100 years. At the very beginning, two to 12 baby sharks, or pups, grow inside their mother for a full year... Full Answer >Filed Under:
