Whale:
Whale is a very large marine mammal with a streamlined hairless body, a horizontal tail fin and a blowhole on the top of the head for breathing.
Dolphin:
Dolphin is a small gregarious toothed whale which typically has a break-like snout and a curved fin on the back. Dolphins have become well-known for their sociable nature and intelligence.
Differences:
| Basis | Whale | Dolphin |
|---|---|---|
| Definition (www.oxforddictionaries.com) |
A small gregarious toothed whale which typically has a beak-like snout and a curved fin on the back. Dolphins have become well known for their sociable nature and high intelligence. | A very large marine mammal with a streamlined hairless body, a horizontal tail fin, and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing. |
| Synonyms | Monster, colossus, scourge, whopper, thrash, hulk, flog | Whale, salmon, panfish, nekton, narwhal, kipper |
| Types | Its types are:
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Its types are:
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| History | The first whales evolved over 50 million years ago. | They are related to the Indohyus, an extinct chevrotain-like ungulate, from which they split approximately 48 million years age. The primitive cetaceans, or archaeocetes, first took to the sea approximately 49 million years ago and became fully aquatic by 5–10 million years later. |
| Word origin | The word whale was originated from Old English hwæl, of Germanic origin. | The word dolphin was originated from Late Middle English: from Old French dauphin, from Provençal dalfin, from Latin delphinus, from Greek delphin. |
| Size | Whale sizes vary from 11ft to 115ft. | Dolphin sizes vary from 4ft to 30ft. |
| Gestation period | Its gestation period is 10 to 13 months. | Its Gestation period is 11 to 17 months. |
| Body hair | Whales have body hair. | Dolphins do not have body hair. |
| Speed | The whales have a slow pace as they have large bodies. | Dolphins are fast swimmers. |
| Togetherness | Whales tend to move alone unless they are migrating or mating. | Dolphins swim in groups. The dolphins love to live together. |
| Teeth structure | Some whale have baleen. | Dolphin teeth are conical. |
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| Social Behavior | Whales are social creatures and live in groups; but they are not as friendly to humans as dolphins are. | Dolphins are very social and tend to show a less fear of human than porpoises. |
| Family | More frequently divided by two suborders, Mysticeti (baleen whales) and Odontoceti (toothed whales). Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins) and Phocoenidae (porpoises) are actually in the Odontoceti suborder, alongside whales. | Several families, including Delphinidae (oceanic dolphins), Iniidae (mostly extinct river dolphins), Platanistidae (Indian river dolphin), Pontoporiidae (La Plata dolphin) |
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