Steno bredanensis . Rough-toothed dolphins are found throughout the world in tropical and warmer temperate waters. These small members of the dolphin family usually travel in small, tight-knit groups
Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 08/20/2025). Ocean City charter and Maryland
record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and
bag limits before you fish—rules change.
Region: New England/Mid-Atlantic,
Pacific Islands,
Southeast,
West Coast
Category: Protected species · Mid-Atlantic
Maryland likelihood: 1★ out of 5
About the species
Rough-toothed dolphins are found throughout the world in tropical and warmer temperate waters. These small members of the dolphin family usually travel in small, tight-knit groups of two to 20 individuals. Their common name was based on the ridges found on their teeth, which are unique to this species.
Rough-toothed dolphins can remain underwater for up to 15 minutes. They can also adapt well to captivity, which is unusual for oceanic dolphins.
Rough-toothed dolphins, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NOAA Fisheries and its partners are working to conserve rough-toothed dolphins and further our understanding of this species through research and conservation activities.
Maryland record catch
Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for Rough-Toothed Dolphin on the current sport-fish record board.
Rough-Toothed Dolphin is a protected marine species in U.S. waters. Do not harvest. This guide is biology and Ocean City context only—not a fishing target.
Rough-toothed dolphins are relatively small compared to other dolphins. They can reach up to 8.5 feet in length and weigh about 350 pounds. They have a small head with a long rostrum and no demarcation between their gently sloping melon (or forehead) and rostrum. Their dorsal fin and pectoral fins or flippers are distinctively large, which is characteristic of this species. They have a “reptilian” appearance that is also distinct and unique among dolphins.
Rough-toothed dolphins have dark gray bodies with a white throat and “lips.” They also have a narrow dark cape that runs down their back between the blowhole and dorsal fin. Their underside usually has some white or lighter spots or blotches.
Behavior and Diet Rough-toothed dolphins are usually found in tight-knit groups of approximately 10 to 20 individuals. However in Hawaii, they are found in smaller groups of on average three individuals and a median group size of seven; they are rarely observed in larger groups of up to 100 individuals. They often associate with other cetacean species, including short-finned pilot whales , bottlenose dolphins , pantropical spotted dolphins , and spinner dolphins . They eat squid and a variety of fish.
Where They Live Rough-toothed dolphins are found in deep oceanic waters throughout tropical and warmer temperate areas of the world. They are generally found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans from 40° North to 35° South. The main factor in determining their preferred habitat is the abundance of prey.
Lifespan & Reproduction Rough-toothed dolphins can live for up to 36 or more years. Sexual maturity occurs at 10 to 14 years of age. Little else is known about their reproductive behavior.
Threats Entanglement One of the main threats to rough-toothed dolphins is entanglement in commercial fishing gear, such as long line fisheries in Hawaii and American Samoa, which can injure or kill them.
Appearance
Rough-toothed dolphins are usually found in tight-knit groups of approximately 10 to 20 individuals. However in Hawaii, they are found in smaller groups of on average three individuals and a median group size of seven; they are rarely observed in larger groups of up to 100 individuals. They often associate with other cetacean species, including short-finned pilot whales , bottlenose dolphins , pantropical spotted dolphins , and spinner dolphins . They eat squid and a variety of fish.
Where They Live Rough-toothed dolphins are found in deep oceanic waters throughout tropical and warmer temperate areas of the world. They are generally found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans from 40° North to 35° South. The main factor in determining their preferred habitat is the abundance of prey.
Lifespan & Reproduction Rough-toothed dolphins can live for up to 36 or more years. Sexual maturity occurs at 10 to 14 years of age. Little else is known about their reproductive behavior.
Threats Entanglement One of the main threats to rough-toothed dolphins is entanglement in commercial fishing gear, such as long line fisheries in Hawaii and American Samoa, which can injure or kill them.
Hunting Rough-toothed dolphins have been killed in direct fisheries in Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, West Africa, and the Caribbean Sea.
Ocean Noise Underwater noise pollution interrupts the normal behavior of rough-toothed dolphins, which rely on sound to communicate and echolocate. If loud enough, noise can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Noise interference from vessels, as well as industrial and military activities, disturbs rough-toothed dolphins’ feeding, communication, and orientation, and other behaviors.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Family Delphinidae Genus Steno Species bredanensis Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2025
Biology
Rough-toothed dolphins are found in deep oceanic waters throughout tropical and warmer temperate areas of the world. They are generally found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans from 40° North to 35° South. The main factor in determining their preferred habitat is the abundance of prey.
Lifespan & Reproduction Rough-toothed dolphins can live for up to 36 or more years. Sexual maturity occurs at 10 to 14 years of age. Little else is known about their reproductive behavior.
Threats Entanglement One of the main threats to rough-toothed dolphins is entanglement in commercial fishing gear, such as long line fisheries in Hawaii and American Samoa, which can injure or kill them.
Hunting Rough-toothed dolphins have been killed in direct fisheries in Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, West Africa, and the Caribbean Sea.
Ocean Noise Underwater noise pollution interrupts the normal behavior of rough-toothed dolphins, which rely on sound to communicate and echolocate. If loud enough, noise can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Noise interference from vessels, as well as industrial and military activities, disturbs rough-toothed dolphins’ feeding, communication, and orientation, and other behaviors.
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.
Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Cetacea Family Delphinidae Genus Steno Species bredanensis Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2025
Where they live
Range
Rough-toothed dolphins are found in deep oceanic waters throughout tropical and warmer temperate areas of the world. They are generally found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans from 40° North to 35° South. The main factor in determining their preferred habitat is the abundance of prey.
Lifespan & Reproduction Rough-toothed dolphins can live for up to 36 or more years. Sexual maturity occurs at 10 to 14 years of age. Little else is known about their reproductive behavior.
Habitat
See the NOAA species profile for habitat detail for this entry.
Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context
From Ocean City, Maryland, use this Rough-Toothed Dolphin profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.
Rough-Toothed Dolphin is protected. Do not harvest. Report unusual strandings or entanglements through official channels.
Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
What charter to book from Ocean City
Rough-Toothed Dolphin is not a standard Ocean City charter harvest target. Use this profile for NOAA biology and Mid-Atlantic context only.
Not typical from OC
Bay guide — Not a typical Ocean City bay guide target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Inshore charter — Not a typical Ocean City inshore charter target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Casting / light tackle — Not a typical Ocean City casting / light tackle target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Trolling charter — Not a typical Ocean City trolling charter target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Nearshore wreck / bottom — Not a typical Ocean City nearshore wreck / bottom target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Offshore charter — Not a typical Ocean City offshore charter target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Head / party boat — Not a typical Ocean City head / party boat target for Rough-Toothed Dolphin.
Start with the charter directory trip-type picker so you compare boats inside the right
archetype—not a bay-guide quote against a canyon invoice.
