# Knifetooth sawfish > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Knifetooth_sawfish > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Knifetooth_sawfish.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knifetooth_sawfish > Source revision: 1354646344 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Species of cartilaginous fish Narrow sawfish Temporal range: 56–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Eocene to Present[1] Conservation status Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)[2] CITES Appendix I [3] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Rhinopristiformes Family: Pristidae Genus: Anoxypristis E. I. White and Moy-Thomas, 1941 Species: A. cuspidata Binomial name Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794) Synonyms[4] Pristis cuspidata Latham, 1794 Anoxypristis cuspidate (Latham, 1794) Squalus semisagittatus Shaw, 1804 The **narrow sawfish** (***Anoxypristis cuspidata***), also known as the **pointed sawfish** or **knifetooth sawfish,** is a [species](/source/Species) of [sawfish](/source/Sawfish) in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Pristidae](/source/Pristidae), part of the [Batoidea](/source/Batoidea), a superorder of cartilaginous fish that include the [rays](/source/Ray_(fish)) and [skates](/source/Skate_(fish)). Sawfish display a circumglobal distribution in warm marine and freshwater habitats. Their extant biodiversity is limited to five species belonging to two genera (*Pristis* and *Anoxypristis*). The sawfishes are characterised by the long, narrow, flattened [rostrum](/source/Rostrum_(anatomy)) or extension on their snout. This is lined with sharp transverse teeth, arranged in a way that resembles the teeth of a saw and are used for killing prey. It is found in the shallow coastal waters and estuaries of the [Indo-West Pacific](/source/Indo-West_Pacific), ranging from the [Persian Gulf](/source/Persian_Gulf) to southern [Japan](/source/Japan), [Papua New Guinea](/source/Papua_New_Guinea) and northern [Australia](/source/Australia). It is the only living member of the [genus](/source/Genus) ***Anoxypristis***, but was previously included in the [genus](/source/Genus) *[Pristis](/source/Pristis)*. Compared to *Pristis*, *Anoxypristis* has a narrower rostral saw with numerous teeth on the distal part and no teeth on the basal one-quarter (toothless section about one-sixth in juveniles).[5] It reaches a length of up to 3.5 m (11 ft).[6] In addition to the living *Anoxypristis cuspidata*, this genus includes a few extinct species that are only known from [fossil](/source/Fossil) remains.[7][8] ## Description Knifetooth sawfish in 2014. Rostrum The narrow sawfish grows to a maximum length of about 3.5 m (11 ft), although there are highly questionable and unconfirmed claims of much larger individuals.[6] Its body is generally shark-like, but its most obvious feature is the flattened head, which is extended forward in a blade-like bony snout with, in Australian waters, 18 to 22 pairs of sideways-facing teeth. However, elsewhere there may be as many as 25.[6] These teeth are short, flat, and roughly triangular in shape. The blade does not taper towards its point and in adults, the basal one-quarter is devoid of teeth. In juveniles, about one-sixth of the base is toothless.[5] The nostrils are narrow and partially concealed by nasal flaps. The skin of young sawfish is smooth, but on older individuals, it is sparsely covered in [dermal denticles](/source/Dermal_denticle).[9] The dorsal (upper) side of the fish is greyish and the ventral (lower) side and fins are a pale grey color. The rostrum is grey with white teeth and sometimes has a chocolate-brown base portion.[6] ## Distribution and habitat Topside Underside The narrow sawfish was historically distributed across a broad swathe of the [Indo-Pacific](/source/Indo-Pacific) Ocean. It is, or was, present in the waters off Iran, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. At its western extreme, it is present in the [Arabian Sea](/source/Arabian_Sea),[2] extending as far south as [Somalia](/source/Somalia).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Its northern limit was the [Bohai Sea](/source/Bohai_Sea), China, South Korea, and the most southerly parts of Japan, although its presence in the latter two countries may have been restricted to [vagrants](/source/Vagrancy_(biology)),[2] and its southern limit is the northern Australian states of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. At present, it is known to exist only in the eastern Arabian Sea, parts of South Asia and Australia and Papua New Guinea.[2] The narrow sawfish is [bentho-pelagic](/source/Benthopelagic_fish) and is found at depths of about 100 meters (330 feet). The narrow sawfish prefers soft bottom-substrates, such as sand, mud, or seagrass, to rocky or coraline habitats. It can tolerate low salinity levels and is found in inshore waters, including bays and estuaries.[10] The narrow sawfish is [euryhaline](/source/Euryhaline), meaning it can tolerate a wide range of salinity and move between estuarine and marine environments. It undergoes an [ontogenetic](/source/Ontogeny) shift in habitat. Larger individuals are commonly found offshore, whereas smaller individuals are found inshore. Females are also more likely to be found offshore.[5] The narrow sawfish is suspected to be locally extinct in the coastal waters of Vietnam due to commercial fishing (especially trawling), coastal development, and subsequent habitat loss.[11] ## Behavior Babies ### Reproduction and life history The breeding behavior of the narrow sawfish has been little studied. Fertilization is internal, and a number of young develop at one time in the [oviduct](/source/Oviduct), each one being nourished from a [yolk sac](/source/Yolk_sac).[6] Mating season varies by geographic region, and pups are born after a [gestational](/source/Gestation) period of about five months.[6][5] Litter sizes range from 6 to 23 pups with an average of 12. The pups are usually 43 – 61 cm long at birth, and their rostral teeth are not fully developed, being covered by a membrane, which prevents them from damaging the mother's tissues.[6] Only two studies have been conducted on the age and growth of the narrow sawfish. The longest-lived narrow sawfish found was nine years old. However, the theoretical longevity is calculated to be 27 years. Females begin to mature at 8 feet 1 inch (2.46 m) total length and are fully mature at 15 feet 5 inches (4.70 m). Males are fully mature at 8 feet (2.4 m) total length.[5] ### Temperament The narrow sawfish is docile towards humans and not large enough to consider them as prey. If left undisturbed, it is harmless towards people. However, when highly stressed, such as when caught in a net, narrow sawfish will flail their heads from side to side to defend themselves. This can potentially inflict serious injury on unprotected persons who get too close.[6] ### Diet The narrow sawfish feeds on small fish, squid, and invertebrates such as crabs and shrimp. It uses its rostrum in a side-to-side thrashing action to stir up the sediment and uncover concealed prey. It can also use its rostrum among schools of fish to incapacitate or stun individual fish. The head and rostrum of the sawfish contain thousands of electroreception organs called [ampullae of lorenzini](/source/Ampullae_of_Lorenzini), which allow it to sense and locate the electric fields of its prey. The narrow sawfish is itself [prey](/source/Predation) to various sharks such as the [hammerhead shark](/source/Hammerhead_shark) (*Sphyrna* spp.), the [bull shark](/source/Bull_shark) (*Carcharhinus leucas*) and the [copper shark](/source/Copper_shark) (*Carcharhinus brachyurus*) and also the [saltwater crocodile](/source/Saltwater_crocodile) (*Crocodylus porosus*).[6] ## Conservation status Anoxypristis cuspidata caught in 1977 ### Threats Human actions are the main cause of the declining narrow sawfish populations and ranges. Overutilization, primarily from commercial fisheries, is its biggest threat.[5] Narrow sawfish populations have likely decreased over 80% between 2004 and 2022.[2] The narrow sawfish is a high-value target for fishermen. Sawfish are commonly hunted to make shark fin soup or for their rostrums to be displayed as trophies. Most countries have regulations against catching it; however, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing remains a threat. Furthermore, the narrow sawfish is or was a common bycatch for fisheries in its geographic range. The toothed rostrum makes it vulnerable to most types of fishing gear, particularly nets, with those made of nylon more difficult for sawfish to extricate themselves from. Damaged, neglected, or lost fishing gear (aka ghost nets) are also a considerable threat to narrow sawfish.[5] Pregnant females and juveniles are at the highest risk for this threat.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Additionally, the narrow sawfish has high post-release mortality, exacerbated by the difficulty of removing sawfish from fishing equipment.[2] Habitat loss and water pollution are also threats to the narrow sawfish. Coastal development, coastline urbanisation, and an expanding mining industry result in the modification and destruction of critical habitat. Furthermore, the pollution from these activities degrades the water quality.[12] As of 2020, narrow sawfish may no longer be present in up to 61% of their historic range, according to the IUCN.[2] These threats are expected to become more significant as the human population grows.[12] Natural threats, such as disease and predation, do not significantly harm the narrow sawfish population.[5] ### IUCN status The [IUCN](/source/IUCN) listed the narrow sawfish as "[Endangered](/source/Endangered)" in its [Red List of Threatened Species](/source/Red_List_of_Threatened_Species) in the year 2000. This was due to the threats of overutilization, habitat loss, and a decreasing population. Its status was updated to "Critically Endangered" in 2006. In 2013, its status returned to "Endangered" due to the availability of new information.[12] The 2023 assessment again categorized it as critically endangered, citing an estimated decrease in the global population by more than 80% in three sawfish generations or 18 years.[2] ### ESA listing On September 10, 2010, WildEarth Guardians petitioned the US [National Marine Fisheries Service](/source/National_Marine_Fisheries_Service) (NMFS) to list six sawfish species – the narrow sawfish; the [dwarf sawfish](/source/Dwarf_sawfish), the [freshwater sawfish](/source/Freshwater_sawfish), the [common sawfish](/source/Common_sawfish), the [narrowsnout sawfish](/source/Narrowsnout_sawfish), and the [smalltooth sawfish](/source/Smalltooth_sawfish) – as endangered or threatened under the [Endangered Species Act of 1973](/source/Endangered_Species_Act_of_1973).[13] The NMFS published a 90-day review on March 7, 2011, stating that action may be warranted for five of the six species. Information available at the time indicated that the common sawfish was not a valid species.[14] On June 4, 2013, the NMFS published a proposal that concluded all five sawfish species were at high risk for [extinction](/source/Extinction). The proposal listed habitat loss, water quality, and overutilization as the biggest threats to the narrow sawfish.[10] The NMFS published its final ruling on December 12, 2014, which listed all five sawfish species as endangered. Scientific data showed that geographical areas occupied by the narrow sawfish were entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction. Therefore, the NMFS was not able to designate any critical habitat. Furthermore, the NMFS did not develop a recovery plan because they would not be able to enforce it.[12] ### Conservation efforts [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia) and [Queensland](/source/Queensland) have listed protections for the Narrow Sawfish as a "no-take" species. Sawfish also are considered "no-take" species in India, but the legislation is frequently ignored and rarely enforced. International trade of the narrow sawfish has been banned by its inclusion in the [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora](/source/CITES) (CITES) Appendix 1.[11] The current population of the narrow sawfish is unknown.[2][11] ## See also - [Sharks portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Sharks) - [Threatened rays](/source/Threatened_rays) Collareta, Alberto; Casati, Simone; Catanzariti, Rita; Di Cencio, Andrea (2017). "First record of the knifetooth sawfish Anoxypristis (Elasmobranchii: Rhinopristiformes) from the Pliocene of Tuscany (central Italy)". *Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen*. **284** (3): 289–297. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2017NJGPA.284..289C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017NJGPA.284..289C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1127/njgpa/2017/0663](https://doi.org/10.1127%2Fnjgpa%2F2017%2F0663). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Sepkoski, Jack (2002). ["A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110930154826/http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=575&rank=class). *Bulletins of American Paleontology*. **364**: 560. Archived from [the original](http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=575&rank=class) on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-iucnredlist2023_2-8) Haque, A.B.; Charles, R.; D'Anastasi, B.; Dulvy, N.K.; Faria, V.; Fordham, S.; Grant, M.I.; Harry, A.V.; Jabado, R.W.; Lear, K.O.; Morgan, D.L.; Tanna, A.; Wakhida, Y.; Wueringer, B.E. (2023). ["*Anoxypristis cuspidata*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39389/58304073). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2023** e.T39389A58304073. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T39389A58304073.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T39389A58304073.en). Retrieved 30 May 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Appendices | CITES"](https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php). *cites.org*. Retrieved 2022-01-14. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["*Anoxypristis cuspidata* (Latham, 1794)"](http://www.gbif.org/species/2420848). *[Global Biodiversity Information Facility](/source/Global_Biodiversity_Information_Facility)*. Retrieved 30 May 2024. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:0_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:0_5-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:0_5-7) ["Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Endangered Listing of Five Species of Sawfish Under the Endangered Species Act"](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/12/12/2014-29201/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-final-endangered-listing-of-five-species-of-sawfish). *Federal Register*. 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2020-04-19. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:1_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-:1_6-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-:1_6-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-:1_6-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-:1_6-8) ["Anoxypristis cuspidata"](https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/anoxypristis-cuspidata/). *Florida Museum*. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2020-04-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Wueringer, Barbara E.; Squire, Lyle; Collin, Shaun P. (2009-03-19). "The biology of extinct and extant sawfish (Batoidea: Sclerorhynchidae and Pristidae)". *Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries*. **19** (4): 445. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009RFBF...19..445W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009RFBF...19..445W). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s11160-009-9112-7](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11160-009-9112-7). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1573-5184](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1573-5184). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [3352391](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:3352391). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Fossilsawfish.com"](http://fossilsawfish.com/). *Fossilsawfish.com*. Retrieved 2020-04-19. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Anoxypristis cuspidata*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Anoxypristis&speciesname=cuspidata). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*. April 2020 version. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_10-1) ["Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding and Proposed Endangered Listing of Five Species of Sawfish Under the Endangered Species Act"](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/04/2013-13170/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-12-month-finding-and-proposed-endangered-listing-of). *Federal Register*. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2020-04-19. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:3_11-2) ["Narrow Sawfish | Anoxypristis Cuspidata | Shark Database"](https://www.sharkwater.com/shark-database/sharks/narrow-sawfish/). *www.sharkwater.com*. Retrieved 2020-04-19. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:4_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:4_12-3) D'Anastasi, B.; Simpfendorfer, C.; van Herwerden, L. (2019) [errata version of 2013 assessment]. ["*Anoxypristis cuspidata*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39389/141789456). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2013** e.T39389A141789456. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T39389A141789456.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T39389A141789456.en). Retrieved 30 May 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** WildEarth Guardians (2010). "A Petition: Requesting the Secretary of Commerce to Add Six Critically Endangered Sawfish Species to the List of Threatened and Endangered Species Maintained Under the Authority of the Endangered Species Act." NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 27 May 2020 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Listing Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List Six Species of Sawfishes as Endangered or Threatened Species Under the Endangered Species Act"](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/03/07/2011-5107/listing-endangered-and-threatened-species-90-day-finding-on-a-petition-to-list-six-species-of). *Federal Register*. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2020-04-19. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Anoxypristis cuspidata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Anoxypristis_cuspidata). - [Species Description of Anoxypristis cuspidata at www.shark-references.com](http://shark-references.com/species/view/Anoxypristis-cuspidata) - [Fishes of Australia : Narrow Sawfish, *Anoxypristis cuspidata*](https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1842) Taxon identifiers Anoxypristis cuspidata Wikidata: Q135965 Wikispecies: Anoxypristis cuspidata ADW: Anoxypristis AFD: Anoxypristis_cuspidata BOLD: 86842 CoL: 8W66B CMS: anoxypristis-cuspidata ECOS: 9969 EoL: 46560367 FishBase: 8211 GBIF: 2420848 iNaturalist: 94203 IRMNG: 10152493 ITIS: 564306 IUCN: 39389 NCBI: 195290 NOAA: narrow-sawfish Observation.org: 790444 OBIS: 217374 Open Tree of Life: 97265 Species+: 7352 TaiCOL: t0056912 WoRMS: 217374 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Knifetooth sawfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knifetooth_sawfish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knifetooth_sawfish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.