But if you ran into the toothy prehistoric Nihohae matakoi at the beach, you would probably try to run on water to get out of its way.
University of Otago oral scientist and researcher Dr Carolina Loch said the 25-million-year-old fossilised dolphin had unique tusk-like teeth, unlike any seen today in dolphins or whales.
The teeth were horizontally positioned at the tip of the mouth and were likely used for swift and powerful attacks on small prey, stunning and injuring them before consumption.
She said the behaviour was part of the animal’s feeding strategy, which involved limited chewing and tearing.
"With those teeth, I would be a bit cautious about going in the water if I saw one at the beach."
Research leader and former University of Otago paleontologist Dr Amber Coste said the fossil was discovered in 1998, in what is now the Unesco Global Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, by retired University of Otago geology emeritus professor Ewan Fordyce and his colleagues.
She said the new species offered a glimpse into the amazing diversity of ancient dolphin species and their incredible adaptations for hunting and survival.
Dr Loch said the discovery was only just coming to light now because it had taken several years to carefully remove the skull from the rock it was fossilised in.
"It’s taken 25 years because it’s a culmination of a lot of work.
"It’s a tribute to Prof Ewan Fordyce and the legacy of his work."
She said releasing images of the dolphin to the public was as exciting as it probably was for Prof Fordyce when he discovered it.
"I think the discovery is still exciting, but actually bringing it to life is pretty amazing.
"There’s nothing else like this in the world.
"To be able to say this is a new species is pretty cool.
"It just shows how important New Zealand is in a global context, because 25 million years ago, New Zealand was under water and now we’re bringing all this diversity of life back to the public to see."
