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Photo credit: George Burgess, Florida Museum of Natural History. |
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All modern sawfishes appear in some respects to be more shark-like than ray-like, with only the trunk, and especially the head, ventrally flattened. The presence of an extended rostrum (snout) having laterally protruding teeth is the main feature that separates all sawfishes from sharks and rays. The rostrum has a saw-like appearance, hence the name of sawfish.
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Learn More...
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- Conservation Notes: This section includes information on threats to this species, its importance to humans and estuaries and how you can help to protect this species
- Profile: This section includes biological and life history information such as the species description, relatives, size/weight, diet, reproduction information, habitat and range.
- References: This section includes the list of articles and books cited in the information about the species.
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Did you know? Sawfishes have cartilaginous skeletons as they are most closely related to sharks and rays. |
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Type: Fish |
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Diet: Invertebrates and schooling fishes |
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Average lifespan in the wild: 40 - 70 years |
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Size: 25 feet (7.6 meters) maximum (adult female) |
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Weight: 1200 lbs (544 kg) maximum |
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Found in the following Estuarine Reserves: Mission-Aransas (TX), Grand Bay (MS), Weeks Bay (AL), Appalachicola (FL), Guana Tolomato Matanzas (FL), Sapelo Island (GA), ACE Basin (SC), North Inlet Winyah Bay (SC). |
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Water quality factors needed for survival: Find details about water temperature, turbidity, water flow, salinity, dissolved oxygen at this link. |
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Threats: |
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- Excessive fishing
- Bycatch
- Habitat degradation
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Click map for larger image |
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