Skip to content

How many teeth do dolphins have?

Most dolphins have equal-sized conical shaped teeth in both upper and lower jaws (porpoises’ teeth are spade-shaped) perfect for grasping fish and squid. Like most mammals, newborn dolphin teeth are still embedded in the gums. Their teeth will start erupting in the first 5 weeks of life.

Dolphins have one set of teeth to last their whole lifetime and the number of teeth varies considerably from species to species. The long-beaked common dolphin has more teeth than any other dolphin with up to 240. Risso’s dolphins have the fewest; they have between 4 and 14 teeth in their lower jaw only. Risso’s favourite food is squid which they suck into their mouths. Amazon River dolphins (botos) have between 100-140 teeth and uniquely they include molar shaped teeth at the back as well as the conical ones at the front. Botos have a particularly varied diet including more than 40 fish species as well as crabs, snails and even turtles which they crunch using their molars!

Bottlenose dolphins have between 80 and 100 teeth.

Although all dolphins are equipped with teeth not all species use their teeth for eating prey or tearing flesh. Most use their teeth to grab, grip and secure prey and then swallow it whole—head first.

Amazing facts about whales and dolphins

Dive deeper into the world of whales and dolphins and learn more about their lives.

A humpback whale pokes its head partway out of the water, a behavior called spyhopping

Facts about whales

Amazing facts about whales, the largest mammals to live on Earth.

two dolphins diving down out of the water

Facts about dolphins

From the orca to the tiny vaquita, learn more about these creatures.

Northern Resident orca, Fife, swimming at the surface

Record breakers

Whales and dolphins hold some incredible records.

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

Brain power

Just how intelligent are whales and dolphins?

Make a difference

Join our team  - no matter which way you choose, your commitment helps whales, dolphins, and our shared planet.

Save the whales, save the world.

Humpback whale spyhop

Adopt

Adopt a whale and help us protect these amazing creatures.

Bottlenose dolphin calf breaching with its whole body out of the water

Join

You can join our team and help us save whales and dolphins

Breaching North Atlantic right whale

Donate

Your gifts help us take action for whales and dolphins.

Orca spyhop

Shop

Support WDC by shopping for yourself or a friend.