Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) fish species and Smalltooth sawfish information

Scientific Name
Pristis pectinata

Common Name
Smalltooth sawfish

Biology
Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. Long, flat, blade-like rostrum with 24 to 32 pairs of teeth along edges; caudal fin large and oblique with no lower lobe. Dark mouse gray to blackish brown above, paler along margins of fins. White to grayish white or pale yellow below.

Classification

Classified By

Latham, 1794

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Sawfishes (Pristiformes)

Family

Sawfishes (Pristidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumglobal. Western Atlantic

Distribution

Circumglobal. Western Atlantic: North Carolina , Bermuda and northern Gulf of Mexico to Argentina. Caribbean, rare in Bermuda. Eastern Atlantic: Gibraltar to Namibia; possibly in the Mediterranean Sea. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines. Possibly occurring in the eastern Pacific.

Range

44°N - 37°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

16 °C

Water Temperature To

30 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

10 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous ; depth range ? - 10 m

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

760 cm

Common Length

550 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (86 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=15)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 6871)

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR)(A2bcd+3cd+4bcd)

Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) fish species and information / pictures of Smalltooth sawfish - Pristis pectinata

Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population