Rough-toothed Dolphin

Steno bredanensis

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetartiodactyla
Family: Delphinidae
Genus: Steno
Species: Steno bredanensis

The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is easily recognised by its long, sloping, cone-shaped head with no crease between the forehead and the beak. Its lips and lower jaw are often white or pinkish, and it gets its name from fine vertical ridges on its teeth.

Growing to about 2.6 m, it feeds on fish and squid and is often seen swimming in tight formation, sometimes skimming along the surface with its chin raised. Groups are usually small and may associate with other dolphins or floating debris.

In the Philippines it occurs in deep tropical waters and is reported from areas such as the Bohol Sea and Sulu Sea. Sightings are relatively infrequent and are typically made from boats.

Photo: 尹若宇, CC BY-SA 4.0, via iNaturalist