They may be distinguished from Atlantic bottlenosed 

 dolphins by the characteristics tabularized on p. 128. 



Even at a distance the blotched coloration of the side and 

 the white coloration of the rostrum of rough-toothed dolphins 

 may be visible. If closer examination is possible, the 

 distinctive shape and coloration of the beak make positive 

 identification easy. 



Distribution 



Though records of rough-toothed dolphins from the 

 western North Atlantic are scant, the species is assumed to 

 be widely distributed in deep tropical to warm temperate 



waters. It has been reported from Virginia, Georgia, Florida, 

 the Gulf of Mexico, the West Indies, and off the northeastern 

 coast of South America. 



Stranded Specimens 



In addition to the characteristics listed above for 

 distinguishing living animals, stranded rough-toothed 

 dolphins can be readily identified by the fact that the 20-27 

 fairly large teeth per jaw per side have a series of fine vertical 

 wrinkles on the crown, a characteristic from which the 

 species derives its common name. (These wrinkles are often 

 difficult to detect.) 



Figure 150.— Closeups of the highly distinctive head of a 

 rough-toothed dolphin showing the white lips and the lack 

 of a clear demarcation between the snout and the forehead. 

 This species has from 20 to 27 fairly large teeth in each side 

 of both the upper and lower jaws. (Photos at Sea Life 

 Park, Hawaii, byK. C. Baicomb [top] and S. Leatherwood 

 [bottom].) 





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