-
Size
18 feet (5.5 m) -
Diet
Slow schooling fishes -
Range
Indo-West Pacific -
Habitat
Found in shallow bays, lagoons and estuaries
Physical Characteristics
- Displays countershading; dark olive or grey on dorsal side and pale yellow or white underneath.
- Heavy, shark like body; very flat on ventral side.
- Long, narrow rostrum is common to all sawfish. In this species, the “saw” is the longest of all, reaching a maximum length of 5.4 feet (1.6 m).
- Typically has 25-34 rostral teeth (actually modified dermal denticles) on either side of the saw.
- Common length of 18 feet (5.5 m), with a maximum length of 23.9 feet (7.3 m).
Animal Fun Fact
Sawfishes are particularly susceptible to being captured as bycatch, because their long, toothed rostrums are easily ensnared in fishing nets. Sawfishes are listed as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Diet / Feeding
- Diet consists primarily of slow schooling fishes, such as mullet.
- Stuns prey by quick swipes of the saw.
- Shellfish and crustaceans are also consumed; sawfish will use its saw to sweep these animals out of the sand.
Range / Habitat
- Occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, Australia and Papua New Guinea, eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as China and New South Wales.
- Mainly bottom-dwelling and found in shallow bays, lagoons and estuaries. Has been found at depths up to 130 feet (40 m), but 1-16 feet (0.3-5 m) is most common.
Reproduction & Growth
- It has been suggested (Grant, 1978) that adult males will use their saws in dominance and mating battles.
- Ovoviviparous species.
- Typically has a litter of approximately 12 pups.
Conservation Status
- “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
Additional Information
- Also known as the “green” sawfish and the “narrow snout” sawfish.
- Vulnerable to nets; both fishing and shark control nets surrounding beaches.
- Predators include tiger and bull sharks, as well as freshwater crocodiles.
