Is it a shark or dolphin? Footage of a mystery finned creature circling close to the shore line divides the internet
- Viral video shows an ominous fin circling a pelican close to shore at WA beach
- A number of viewers claimed it was a dolphin but others argued it was bull shark
- The footage was uploaded by Ian Wood, who claimed it was 'definitely' a shark
A viral video of an ominous fin circling a pelican close to shore has divided the internet.
The footage, filmed at a beach in Western Australia just after sunrise on Saturday, was uploaded by Ian Wood who claimed it was a bull shark.
But a heated discussion followed, with countless social media users convinced the underwater fish was much more likely to have been a dolphin than a shark.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206160324/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/14/3CE5EB2C00000578-4196320-image-a-24_1486392306218.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206160324/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/14/3CE5EB2100000578-4196320-image-m-23_1486392296800.jpg)
Shark or dophin? A viral video of an ominous fin circling a pelican close to shore has divided the internet
'Nope. Where's the tail fin ? And dolphins flex up and down, sharks use their tail fin and flex side by side,' one man commented.
But Mr Wood stood firm, responding: 'We saw dolphins before. This was definitely one of 3 bull sharks we saw.'
While some viewers agreed with his conviction that the fin belonged to a deadly bull shark, others continued to explain why they believed it was a dolphin.
'I work at Parks and Wildlife. I showed your video to our Dolphin Watch staff and they said it's definitely a dolphin,' one man wrote.
'It comes up for a breath at the end and the way that it powers through the water is how dolphins hunt. Great video, shows what awesome power and maneuverability through the water dolphins have!'
![The man who uploaded the footage said it was 'definitely' a bull shark](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206160324/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/14/3CE5EB4200000578-4196320-image-a-27_1486392331097.jpg)
The man who uploaded the footage said it was 'definitely' a bull shark
'Nope. Where's the tail fin ? And dolphins flex up and down, sharks use their tail fin and flex side by side,' added another viewer.
Eventually Mr Wood conceded that it may well have been a harmless dolphin, writing: 'Ok everyone. I did see it swim in 200m with a straight fin and never saw or heard it's blowhole but I think it was a dolphin.'
Bull sharks are known for their aggressive nature and typically swim in warm, shallow water.
![Others pointed to the lack of a tail fin, reasoning that it was in fact a dolphin](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206160324/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/06/14/3CE5EB3A00000578-4196320-image-a-28_1486392335984.jpg)
Others pointed to the lack of a tail fin, reasoning that it was in fact a dolphin
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