dolphins very social and smart animals. i'm not very sure how smart sharks are compared to dolphins (remember...sharks are fish and dolphins are mammals), but it was very obvious on this myth that the shark was intimidated by the fake dolphin in the water.

quote:

HOW could a sharks be a AFRAID of dolphins IF they're the greatest under water killing mashine????

good question! but just b/c sharks are "killing machines" (you're very right...they've got hundreds of teeth and powerful jaws) doesn't mean they are intimidated by the smarts of a dolphin, perhaps. if the sharks were intimidated by a fake dolphin, it could have been the shape of the animal that frightened it b/c they thought it was real. i really don't know what would cause this fear, though, except for how smart dolphins can be.

but, so many things can be a factor in the outcome of a myth like this. my biggest thing is that sharks also have a good sense of smell. maybe the odd scent of the foam and the paint creature was distracting to the shark.

i still think this is a plausible myth, but it would take extensive researching for patterns with sharks and real dolphins to confirm this myth completely. hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by projectmayhem223:
I agree with the fact that the shark would be scared of any large, non-seal object floating in the area of the bait as a potential other predator that would defend it's kill (the bait).

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As a side note to nicka8:
The myth busters aren't scientists. they don't use any scientific evidence. ever. Their premise is to attempt to replicate the myth and see what happens, and from that data ALONE, give a final answer (however ridiculous) so the viewers have some closure. myths that require difficult circumstances and lots of variables just don't stand up to their way of testing. while myths like water tanks blowing up are perfect. one variable, temperature, just put it to max and see what happens. /rant.

Personally, I do think hey use a modified scientific method and collect data. They pose a hypothesis (some component of the myth) and then check if it is true. They often use a control in their experiments (meaning an unaffected object or scenario - several with plants and the pyramid power ones are examples). They also attempt to control for extraneous variables / effects. While not everything they do is lab grade, it is pretty scientific.

As for the large non-organic object near the seal - they are in a BOAT. It presents a very large, unfamiliar, non-seal like profile from the bottom. I believe the first attack on the fake seal took just a few seconds. It would be interesting to see if a large shark profile would make a difference, as would a large human shaped profile. But this myth was very interesting!

Well it's nice to see people don't read every post before they post. Dolphin's are a smart mammal. It's a fact that sharks come in a variety of sizes. The big sharks eat dolphins. IE Great whites, tiger sharks have been found with dophins in their stomachs when they have been caught. All sharks have lateral lines which is a skin based organ which allows them to detect and pursue various prey items in the water. The fake dolphin registered as fake and odd to the various great whites who came to take a look. Even though they are very big and ferocious, they approach unknown things with caution. (They do not want to be needlessly hurt by prey.) And as for them being the premier ocean killing machine........... I really think that Killer whales are those.

People keep bringing up the fact thet shacks can detect live prey but this did not seem to be a problem with the fake seal. And while I still beilive that this may have been a factor hence the myth is only plausible i think the larger issue is that the shrak is in seal infested waters and has an abundance of easier prey to go after. It's not going to risk a dolphin attack when it can get easy food. Dolphimns have been known to attack great whites or be attacked by them. I fully beilieve this myth but agree that for many reasons it can't be confirmed.

Basically the dolphins all pack together in a group and start to prod the Shark on rare occasions, but yeah i think Sharks are scared of dolphins

quote:

Originally posted by Aramanthus:
Well it's nice to see people don't read every post before they post. Dolphin's are a smart mammal. It's a fact that sharks come in a variety of sizes. The big sharks eat dolphins. IE Great whites, tiger sharks have been found with dophins in their stomachs when they have been caught. All sharks have lateral lines which is a skin based organ which allows them to detect and pursue various prey items in the water. The fake dolphin registered as fake and odd to the various great whites who came to take a look. Even though they are very big and ferocious, they approach unknown things with caution. (They do not want to be needlessly hurt by prey.) And as for them being the premier ocean killing machine........... I really think that Killer whales are those.

...and killer whales (orcas) are in fact a type of dolphin.
Sorry, just had to add that to the end of your summary since someone earlier seemed to imply that an orca could somehow not be a dolphin since it's also a whale.
ALL dolphins (including orcas) are technically also "whales". Bottlenose dolphins (like the model they created on the show) and killer whales are both in the Scientific family Delphinidae ("oceanic dolphins") under the Suborder Odontoceti ("toothed whales") under the Order Cetacea ("whale").

I agree that it's not fully clear why the sharks acted cautiously to the fake dolphin. I enjoyed watching it though.

Although a shark can detect live pray when its in close proximity it uses its very good eyesight to hunt during the day at the surface. Which is why it went straight for the decoy seal. So it was the sight of the dolphin that stopped it attacking any strange smells from the foam dolphin would have no effect. Sharks dont generally attak dolphins because they are smart and usually found in groups which would turn on the shark. There are much easier targets to go for than something that can fight back.

When they are getting the cad model of the dolphin wht is the type of computer mouse the computer man is using? i am interested in cad and have been looking everywhere for one like it! email at tima129@gmail.com

sorry i ment tima129@aim.com