Body Shape: Sharks have a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body that helps them swim efficiently through the water. They have a cartilaginous skeleton, which makes them lighter and more flexible than bony fish. Dolphins, on the other hand, have a more streamlined, mammal-like body with flippers and a tail that help them swim and maneuver. Their skeletons are also made of bone.
Gills vs. Lungs: Sharks breathe through gills, which extract oxygen from the water as it passes over them. Dolphins, being mammals, need to surface regularly to breathe air through their blowholes.
Teeth and Diet: Sharks have several rows of sharp, pointed teeth that they use to catch and tear their prey. Dolphins have conical-shaped teeth, but their diet primarily consists of fish, squid, and other marine animals, which they swallow whole.
Intelligence and Social Behavior: Dolphins are well known for their high intelligence, social behavior, and complex communication systems. They live in pods and display social behaviors, such as hunting, playing, and caring for their young together. Sharks, on the other hand, tend to be more solitary creatures, although some species may form larger groups.
Reproduction: Sharks reproduce sexually and give birth to live young (except for the spiny dogfish, which lays eggs). Dolphins give birth to live young and provide them with milk and parental care.
Habitat: While both sharks and dolphins can be found in various marine habitats, there are some differences in their preferred environments. Sharks are more diverse and can be found in deep oceans, coastal waters, and even some freshwater habitats. Dolphins are more common in tropical and temperate waters and are often associated with coastal regions, estuaries, and open ocean environments.