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Shark picture - green sawfish

GREEN SAWFISH

green sawfish

View all available Green Sawfish Pictures in the Shark Pictures Database

Common Names: Green sawfish, Longcomb Sawfish.

Latin Name: Pristis zijsron

Family: Pristidae

Identification: Overall flattened sharklike body. Elongated flattened rostrum (saw) accounts for about 1/3 of overall length. Saw contains 24 to 34 pairs of rostral teeth which are further apart near the base of the rostrum. First dorsal fin originates behind pelvic fins. Lower caudal lobe is greatly reduced.

Size: Maximum length 730cm.

Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms in estuaries, bays, and lagoons. Also in fresh or brackish water environments in lakes and rivers.

Abundance and distribution: Uncommon due to habitat loss and over fishing. Easily caught in fishing nets where removal without injury to the animal is difficult. Also previously hunted for its saw which was sold in curio shops. Northern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific from South Africa to Australia.

Behavior: Swims into schools of fish and thrashes its saw from side to side, wounding and killing the fish which it then recovers. May also use its saw to dig for crustaceans and mollusks in the sediment.

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous. Young are born with flexible rostrums in which the teeth are covered with a sheath of skin to avoid injury to the mother. After birth the rostrum unrolls and hardens.

Observations:

Photographs:

Similar species: The Green Sawfish shares its range with at least 3 other species. The Dwarf Sawfish (Pristis clavata) has a rounder head and evenly spaced rostral teeth, the Narrow Sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata) has a much narrower rostrum, and the Freshwater or Broadbill Sawfish (Pristis microdon) has a distinct lower tail lobe, a broader rostral base, and evenly spaced rostral teeth with the leading pair angled forward.

Reaction to divers:

Diving logistics: There are no locations that I know of where divers can reliably find Green Sawfish due to their rarity and preference for turbid environments. Any information on sightings of this species by divers and hikers would be very welcome.

Other diving locations submitted by readers:

References:

Field Identification Guide to Western Australia - Sharks and Shark-like Rays. Department of Fisheries

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