The British Museum's F. C. Fraser identified this species in 1956 from a skeleton discovered in Sarawak, Borneo. The specific name is derived from the collector of the skeleton, C. Hose. Fraser's Dolphin is robust and has small pointed flippers and dorsal fin. The beak is short, dark on the upper jaw and around the lips. The chin area, throat and belly are creamy white.
Flippers are dark, and a series of grey-black lines connect the flippers to the beak.
A grey-cream line stretches from melon to the flanks, separating the dorsal cape from a dark grey to black lateral stripe that extends backward from the face. Adults measure between 2m and 2.65m in length. Large animals can weigh around 200kg. Fraser's Dolphins are most likely to be confused with Common Dolphins and Striped Dolphins, both of which have longer beaks and larger flippers and dorsals. Fraser's Dolphins prefer deep offshore waters in tropical and warm temperate areas.