Smalltooth Sawfish

Overview

The Smalltooth Sawfish is a unique, critically endangered elasmobranch easily recognized by its elongated, blade-like snout, or rostrum, lined with numerous pairs of teeth. Primarily found in tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters, this species is known for its ability to inhabit both coastal marine environments and freshwater systems, including rivers and estuaries.

Appearance

This species features a flattened, shark-like body that is typically brown to light sand-colored on the dorsal side and pale yellow, grey, or white underneath. Its most defining characteristic is the long rostrum, which bears 24 to 32 pairs of lateral teeth. Unlike some other sawfish, it lacks a distinct lower lobe on its caudal fin, and its first dorsal fin is positioned directly above the pelvic fins.

Distribution & habitat

Smalltooth sawfish are distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic. They are frequently encountered in shallow, inshore habitats such as mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and mud banks. While juveniles often remain in these shallow nursery areas, adults may venture into deeper offshore waters.

Biology & behavior

These fish are known for their site fidelity, with females often returning to the same specific nursery grounds to give birth. They exhibit slow growth and late maturity, which, combined with their infrequent reproductive cycles, makes them highly vulnerable to population decline. They are generally non-migratory, though their movements are often influenced by water salinity.

Feeding

Using their specialized rostrum, they hunt by slashing sideways through schools of fish to stun or impale prey, which is then scraped off against the seafloor. They also utilize their sensitive electroreceptors to detect and dig for buried invertebrates in soft sediments.