Smalltooth or Greater Sawfish
Sawfishes are instantly recognizable by their long, toothed rostrum, or snout - the Saw which they use to stun prey and stir up the seabed when feeding. In other ways they look more like sharks than rays, but the position of the gills and mouth (see opposite) shows that they belong among the rays. The smalltooth sawfish is one of the biggest species, with 24 to 32 pairs of teeth on its saw. It used to be common in many areas, including the western Atlantic and Gulf coast, but like several other sawfishes is now seriously endangered. It was often caught in fishing nets, and its sword was (and still is) collected as a souvenir and for its supposed magical powers.
Scientific name : Pristis pectinate
Classification : Order Pristiformes (sawfishes)
Family : Pristidae
Size : Up to 7.5m (25ft) long including saw, but 5.5m (18ft) more common
Distribution : Worldwide (but rare) in tropical and temperate waters
Habitat : Mainly shallow coastal waters and estuaries; sometimes enters rivers
Diet : Schooling fish; bottom-living invertebrates
Reproduction : Ovoviviparous; 15-20 young, born with soft saw in protective sheath