Whales vs Dolphins : What's the Difference?

 

In a physical showdown of Whale vs Dolphin, this picture shows that Whale beats Dolphin. But what about in intelligence? Emotional capacity? 

Whales and Dolphins are both famous members of Cetacea, but what makes them different from one another? In a series of Whale vs Dolphin showdowns, you'll discover what exactly makes 

Battle of Brute Force : In the right corner, we have...

Team Whale, weighing in at a max of 180 tons. And in the left corner, we have Team Dolphin, weighing in at a max of...let's just say less than a ton. 

One of the most obvious differences between whales and dolphins is size. Whales are generally bigger and heavier than dolphins, which have more stream-lined bodies. Clearly, in a battle of brute force, whale beats dolphin. Let's look at the attributes of each group and find out why. 

Whale

Average Size: 10-110 feet long, up to 180 tons

Body Shape: Thick, wide, round, surrounded by fat and blubber

Dolphin

Average Size: 5-35 feet long, up to 700 pounds

Body Shape: Lean, slender, torpedo-shaped, tapered off toward the tail

Whales are definitively more massive than dolphins, and they have more jaw power too; whale bites can measure up to 4000 psi! However, dolphins aren't completely physically outmatched. Because of their unfused neck vertebrae, dolphins have more flexibility than whales, especially in their neck. Additionally, reaching up to speeds to 25 mph, the dolphin can swim for 100 miles without stopping. Compare this to the average of 40 miles a day at 15-20 miles per hour, and you'll see that even though whale beats dolphin in a physical match, dolphins still have skills. And when it comes to aerial tricks, dolphins are the ones taking home the belt. 

Brain Games : Are you smarter than a cetacean?

I'd like to say I am, but it comes down to what kind of Cetacean we're talking about here. Both Whales and Dolphins are known for their Cetacean Intelligence, a term that denotes the cognitive ability of Cetaceans, but which group is more intelligent? 

Society and culture often promote Dolphins' intelligence. However, recent research has revealed that the IQs of Whales and Dolphins are about the same. There's no exact way to measure two different groups' intelligences, and because of this, there's no definite proof that society's common beliefs that Dolphins have a higher IQ compared to Whales. Both show intelligence in their unique hunting abilities and strategies as well as their adaptations to the ocean's harsh environments. 

The Thespian Test : And the Oscar goes to...

Dolphins. Although there's no clear winner on IQ, research has shown that Dolphins have a much higher EQ compared to Whales. Emotional intelligence is one of the key characteristics of Dolphins; they're known for displaying happiness, sadness, and other emotions in response to different situations. Actions such as playing, cuddling, and group hunting techniques demonstrate the advanced behavioral skills and high emotional intelligence of Dolphins. 

On the other hand, Whales have a lower EQ and often live in solitary or in small pods. Although Whales also show attachment to their young and execute group hunting techniques, they lack the social skills seen in Dolphins and don't possess the same relationships between individual Dolphins. 

https://short-facts.com/how-far-can-a-dolphin-swim-without-stopping/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1021016/Pictured-The-deadly-dolphin-dance-proves-killer-whales-DO-attack-cousins.html

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/dolphin-vs-whale-what-are-the-differences/