Largetooth sawfish

Pristis pristis

Type: Fish - Ray Litter size: 1 to 20 pups Other common names: Southern sawfish, common sawfish, freshwater sawfish, saw fish Life span: 30 to 36 years Diet description: Fish, crustaceans, molluscs Max length: 7 metres Habitat and range: Worldwide in coastal tropical and subtropical waters. Primarily occupy shallow coastal wetland and mangrove habitats, although are also capable of entering freshwater systems and have been recorded over 1,000 km from the sea. Relative size: Image IUCN status: Critically endangered (CR) - Decreasing population Critically endangered (CR)
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Identification

Largetooth sawfish are actually rays (rather than sharks) as indicated by their flattened heads and gills below the pectoral fins (sharks have their gills above their pectoral fins). Their most identifiable feature is the long saw that extends from their snout, or rostrum, which is lined on either side with large teeth. Unlike other shark and ray teeth, the rostral teeth do not grow back if damaged. Largetooth sawfish are distinguished from other sawfish species by having fewer, larger teeth along their rostrum, and a first dorsal fin that is much further forward than the pectoral fins.

Photo © Peter Kyne
Photo © Peter Kyne

Reproduction

Largetooth sawfish are ovoviviparous, meaning they grow their embryos internally and nourish them from a yolk sack before giving birth to live, independent young. Few pups (1–13) are born every other year, and females take more than 10 years to mature, so they reproduce very slowly. Pups are about 0.75 m when born, and at birth their rostral teeth do not fully erupt – they are covered by a sheath of tissue to protect the mother.

Habitat and geographical range

Largetooth sawfish are found worldwide in coastal tropical and subtropical waters, primarily occupying shallow coastal wetland and mangrove habitats. They are also capable of entering freshwater systems and have been recorded more than 1,000 km from the sea.

Image

Diet

Largetooth sawfish feed primarily on benthic crustaceans and other invertebrates that they stir up from the substrate with their saws. They also feed on small fish, such as mullet and herrings, after stunning them with their rostrum.

Threats

Largetooth sawfish are primarily threatened by overfishing – although targeted fisheries existed previously, they are now mostly caught as bycatch. Their saw makes them particularly susceptible to entanglement in nets, with gillnet and trawl fisheries posing the most significant bycatch threats. They are also highly susceptible to habitat degradation, given their reliance on certain coastal habitats (e.g. mangroves, estuaries) for particular live stages. Development, aquaculture, dredging and run-off have resulted in substantial loss of sawfish habitat in much of their range. Overall, largetooth sawfish are estimated to have declined by more than 80% globally and they are now considered Critically Endangered.

Relationship with humans

The saws from largetooth sawfish have long held cultural significance in rituals and traditional medicine, as well as being used as trophies and curios. Sawfish themselves are also regularly used for their meat and fins. They are typically very docile, but when caught in a net and trying to escape they need to be handled with extreme care to avoid injury from the thrashing rostrum. They have been listed on Appendix I of CITES to help restrict their international trade, and there is limited, and highly regulated, trade in largetooth sawfish for display in aquaria.

References

Peter R. Last, et al., 2016, Rays of the world.

M.P. Kyne, et al., 2021, Life history of the critically endangered largetooth sawfish: a compilation of data for population assesment and demographic modelling.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Largetooth sawfish : pristis pristis

Florida Museum, 2018, Pristis pristis

NOAA Fisheries, Largetooth sawfish

National Geographic, 2021, Largetooth sawfish

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