Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon) fish species and Largetooth sawfish information

Scientific Name
Pristis microdon

Common Name
Largetooth sawfish

Biology
Inhabits sandy or muddy bottoms of shallow coastal waters, estuaries, river mouths, and freshwater rivers and lakes. Usually found in turbid channels of large rivers over soft mud bottoms (Ref. 2847, 44894). Adults usually found in estuaries and young ascend into fresh water. Large adults can also be found in fresh water, but are rarely caught (Ref. 12693). Feeds on benthic animals and small schooling species. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). The saw is used for grubbing and attacking prey as well as for defense. The saws sell as tourist souvenirs (Ref. 7248). Occasionally caught by demersal tangle net and trawl fisheries in the Arafura Sea; possibly extinct in parts of the Indo-Pacific; highly susceptible to gill nets. Utilized for its fins and meat (both of very high value), and skin and cartilage (Ref.58048).

Classification

Classified By

Latham, 1794

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Sawfishes (Pristiformes)

Family

Sawfishes (Pristidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Viet Nam, south to Australia. Also Atlantic and eastern Pacific if Pristis perotteti and Pristis zephyreus are synonymized with this species. The original description of Pristis microdon did not give a locality, but most authors have used the name Pristis microdon for the Indo-West Pacific sawfishes of this species group as contrasted from the Atlantic Pristis perotteti and the eastern Pacific Pristis zephyreus.

Range

22°N - 39°S, 20°E - 154°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

24 °C

Water Temperature To

26 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

10 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 10 m (Ref. 27000)

Trophic Level

3.85 s.e. 0.61 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

700 cm

Common Length

500 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 (87 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=10; tmax=30; Fec=1)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Critically Endangered (CR) (A2abcd+3cd+4bcd)

Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon) fish species and information / pictures of Largetooth sawfish - Pristis microdon

Largetooth sawfish (Pristis microdon) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population