ROUGH TOOTHED DOLPHIN

STENO BREDANENSIS
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Rough Toothed Dolphin

Rough-toothed dolphins are small members of the dolphin family. They are a primitive-looking dolphin. The Rough-toothed dolphin can be found in deep warm and tropical waters around the world.
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Anatomy
Males and females are similar in appearance, however, males are larger than females. Its a large species with 7 to 9.3 feet in length and 200-340 pounds in weight.

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Anatomy
Their dorsal n is tall and only slightly recurved. Body color is dark and the belly, lips, and parts of the lower jaw are white. They have between nineteen and twenty-eight teeth in each quarter of the jaw.
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Habitat
The Steno bredanensis prefer deeper areas of tropical and warmer temperate waters where their prey are concentrated. This dolphin is generally found in offshore waters, usually with a temperature over 25 degrees Celsius

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Habitat
They prefer deep waters greater than 6,560 feet in depth. There are two recognized stocks: Hawaii with 20,000 individuals Northern Gulf of Mexico with 2,200.

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Behavior
Is a fast swimmer and a sociable animal. They form schools of up to 50 animals, but also been observed groups of 300 dolphins in Hawaiian waters. They often associate with other dolphins including bottlenose, spinner and pantropical spotted dolphins.
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Behavior
This species demonstrate reciprocal altruism with injured dolphins. They enjoy "surng" or bow-riding. Rough-toothed dolphins communicate with other dolphins through echolocation clicks and pulse signals.
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Feeding
Their diet consists in squids, octopuses, silversides, algaes and a variety of shes. They are known to be able to dive to at least 160 Ft. and be able to stay underwater for fteen minutes.

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Feeding
They chase their prey and toss it around with their beaks. Members of Rough-toothed dolphins are also known to forage on "bait balls" of schooling sh.

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Reproduction
Males reach sexual maturity at about 14 years and females at about 10 years. Rough-toothed dolphins give birth to a single young.

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Reproduction
The young are about 39 in long at birth. The rough-toothed dolphin is known to live for up to 32 to 36 years.

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Threats
Natural Threats: Predators on rough-toothed dolphins are thought to include killer whales and some sharks. Rough-toothed dolphins are considered Data Decient in the IUCN Redlist.

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Threats
The greatest threats to the rough-toothed dolphin are pollution and incidental capture in shing nets. This species is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection since 1972.

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