Sawfish ID

Steps to identify a sawfish . . . easy as 1, 2, 3

 
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Step 1. Is there a fork in the tail fin?

  1. Yes . . . Go to step 2

  2. No . . . Go to step 3

Step 2. Are there rostral teeth on bottom fourth of rostrum?

  1. Yes . . . Largetooth/freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis). 14-24 rostral teeth per side, small but apparent lower caudal lobe, start of the first dorsal fin well anterior of the start of the pelvic fins, adults with a wide tapering rostrum, occurs in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide

  2. No . . . Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata). No rostral teeth on bottom fourth of rostrum, distinct lower caudal fin, narrow non-tapering rostrum, occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific

Step 3. Are the rostral teeth evenly spaced?

  1. Yes . . . Dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata). 18-27 rostral teeth per side, small to no lower caudal lobe, start of first dorsal fin in-line with start of pelvic fin, relatively narrow pectoral fins, occur in Australia and Indonesia (possibly throughout the Indo-West Pacific).

  2.  No . . . Tooth gaps gradually decreased from the rostrum base to tip, sawfish from Atlantic Ocean . . . Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata).

    23-37 rostral teeth per side, inner-tooth gaps decrease towards tip of rostrum, small to no lower caudal fin, start of first dorsal fin slightly posterior to the start of the pelvic fins, occur throughout the Indo-West Pacific.

  3. No . . . Very large tooth gaps near base of rostrum, sawfish from Indo-West Pacific . . . Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron).

    20-30 rostral teeth per side, inner-tooth gaps decrease towards tip of rostrum, start of the first dorsal fin in-line with the start of the pelvic fins, occur in the Atlantic Ocean.