- 1). Pay very close attention to the shape of the tip on the animal's dorsal fin. Dolphins' dorsal fins feature a curved look. The fins of sharks, however, are shaped more like a triangle. Look carefully, though -- porpoises' fins can also appear triangular. See if you can spot an additional, smaller fin on the animal. If you notice this, you are looking at a shark; some species sport a smaller fin close to the tail.
- 2). Examine the fin for any sense of scarring. Up to 75% of dolphins in the wild may have dorsal fins that exhibit some sort of injury, likely inflicted by a shark. Dolphins and sharks typically avoid one another. However, when clashes do take place in the open ocean, dolphins often suffer.
- 3). Analyze as much of the animal's body as you can see in the water. Sharks tend to have sharp angles to their fins, both dorsal and pectoral. Dolphins, on the other hand, are more curved in their silhouettes and have a torpedo-like shape.
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