MIAMI — The relationship between whales and dolphins has long been shrouded in mystery.

But new research reveals that despite their vast difference in size, these marine mammals often enjoy playful interactions, much like a Great Dane romping with a Chihuahua.

Scientists at Griffith University in Australia came to this conclusion by analyzing dozens of interspecies encounters from around the world, according to a study published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed journal Discover Animals.

“It is clear such interactions happen much more often than we previously thought,” Olaf Meynecke, one of the study authors, told McClatchy News. “These interactions cannot be underestimated and may well play a part in the well-being of whales and dolphins.”

The study reviewed 199 separate exchanges between

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