The rough-toothed dolphin is robust, with a conical head lacking demarcation between the melon and the beak. It has a somewhat reptilian appearance.

This species has large flippers (seemingly oversized for the animal), and a prominent sickle-shaped dorsal fin. The body is dark grey, with a prominent narrow dorsal cape that dips slightly below the dorsal fin. The belly, lips, and much of the lower jaw are white, often with a pinkish cast. White scratches and spots, apparently caused in part by bites of cookie-cutter sharks and other rough-toothed dolphins, often cover much of the body.

The jaws contain 20-27 teeth in each row with subtle, but detectable, vertical ridges. These ridges give rise to the species' English common name. Adults are up to about 2.8 m long. They are known to reach weights of up to 150 kg. Length at birth is unknown.
Rough-toothed dolphins are generally easy to identify when seen at close range; however, they may be mistaken for bottlenose dolphins if seen at a distance. The narrow cape and cone-shaped head will be the best clues to identification of rough-toothed dolphins in such situations.

The Rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis, feeds on fish and squid as well as molluscs and cephalopods. Steno bredanensis is a gregarious species found in groups of 10-30 on average, as well as schools of up to 160 dolphins containing up to 8 smaller subgroups.
Like other dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins communicate and echolocate using clicks and whistles. It appears that Rough-Toothed Dolphins take a variety of fish species, free-swimming octopi and squid.

The typical family unit contains between 10-50 individuals, but occasionally can number more than 100. Rough-Toothed Dolphins also associate with other small cetaceans, and are powerful swimmers. They do not bow ride as often as other species, but do 'skim', swimming rapidly with only the dorsal fin exposed above the surface.