Family: Delphinidae cetaceans
IDENTIFICATION: The lip, throat and belly are pinky-white. The flanks are a light grey and the back and dorsal fin a much darker grey. The dorsal fin is pronounced.
NOTE: The Rough Tooth Dolphin, is named for the 20-27 teeth with faint ridges located in both the upper and lower jaw.
Diver Interaction:
The Rough Tooth Dolphin is a gregarious species found in groups of 10-30 on average, as well as schools of up to 160 dolphins containing up to 8 smaller subgroups. Like other dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins communicate and echo-locate using clicks and whistles. Divers can simulate their noises in order to attract their attention. It is unknown whether the wild dolphins interact with divers out of curiosity, playfulness or to distract the unknown divers whilst their young can swim away.
Habitat & Lifestyle:
The species is social. Group sizes are commonly as large as fifty and groups as large as 100 have been reported. The dolphin has not been observed to bow-ride but does ‘skim’ and swim with their heads and chin above the surface of the water.
Global Distribution:
The distribution and population of the Rough-toothed Dolphin is poorly understood. Most of the research activity concerning the dolphin has been directed in the eastern Pacific Ocean where a population estimate of 150,000 has been obtained. There have been numerous reports from other warm seas, usually as a result of by-catches. Populations of unknown sizes exist in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas and the Atlantic, Indian. Live sightings are almost universally made far off-shore beyond the continental shelf.
Unique Physique:
The characteristic feature of this dolphin is its conical head and slender nose. The flippers are set back further than in other similar dolphins (at sea this dolphin maybe confused with Spinner, Spotted and Bottlenose Dolphins).
Abundance:
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.