Sawfish

Presentation

The Sawfish is a cartilaginous fish recognizable by its long flat rostrum lined with lateral teeth, reminiscent of a saw. Close relative of rays, it belongs to the order Pristiformes and lives in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. Its rostrum serves as both a sensory organ and a weapon to flush out and stun its prey in the sand or mud. Once widespread, it has experienced a marked decline due to fishing and the degradation of coastal habitats. It is today one of the most endangered groups of marine fish in the world. Several species frequent estuaries, mangroves and shallow brackish waters.

The body is elongated and flattened, similar to that of a stingray, covered with rough skin with cutaneous denticles. The rostrum, an extension of the skull, has a row of regularly arranged pointed teeth on each side. The pectoral fins are broad and the dorsal fins well developed, unlike many rays. Coloration varies from gray-brown to olive on the back, with a lighter belly.

Characteristics

Indicative values: they vary by subspecies, sex and region.

Habitat and distribution

The Sawfish lives in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, mangroves and sometimes the fresh waters of large tropical rivers. It prefers soft, sandy or muddy bottoms, where it can move and hunt easily thanks to its rostrum. Some species tolerate wide variations in salinity and travel far up rivers.

Behaviour

It is a rather slow and discreet animal, active mainly at dusk and at night. It frequents shallow sandy or muddy bottoms, often near coasts, estuaries or in mangroves. Solitary most of the time, it generally avoids contact with humans unless its rostrum remains trapped in nets.

Reproduction

Reproduction is ovoviviparous: the eggs develop inside the body of the female and the young are born already formed. Litters generally number from a few individuals to around twenty young depending on the species. Sexual maturity is late, often reached after several years, which strongly limits the capacity of populations to recover.

Peculiarities

The rostrum, equipped with electro-sensory sensors, makes it possible to detect the movements of prey even in murky water. This unique structure also explains the great vulnerability of the species, because it easily becomes entangled in fishing nets. The Sawfish is sometimes confused with the sawshark, although it differs in the position of its gill slits, located under the body.

Threats and conservation

The main threat is accidental capture in fishing gear, to which is added targeted fishing for rostrum and fins, which are very popular in certain markets. The degradation and disappearance of coastal habitats and mangroves further aggravate its decline. Its late sexual maturity and low fertility make the recovery of populations very slow.

References

Profile updated 28 August 2026 · Reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team.