Rough-toothed dolphin  (Steno bredanensis)

Threats

The greatest threat to the rough-toothed dolphin is likely to be incidental capture in fishing nets (2). While this dolphin is directly hunted in several areas for its meat (5), including Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (2), relatively small numbers are taken (6), and as it inhabits offshore waters, it is unlikely to be affected by habitat degradation and pollution to the same extent that coastal-dwelling dolphins are (2).

Conservation

The rough-toothed dolphin is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that any trade in this species should be carefully monitored (3). This dolphin is also held in captivity in a number of countries where, incidentally, they have been found to be bold and inventive animals (2). Studies of the rough-toothed dolphin in captivity may allow knowledge of this species’ biology to be furthered (5).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
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