Family: Pristidae, Sawfishes view all from this family

Description To 18' (5.5 m). Moderately depressed and shark-shaped, tail sector large and not distinct from body; color nearly uniform mousy-gray to blackish above, paler on sides, whitish below. Snout large, bladelike, with 24 or more teeth on each side. Pectoral fins not greatly expanded; origin of first dorsal fin over pelvic fin insertion. 2 dorsal fins about same size and shape. Caudal fin large and sharklike.

Warning This species can inflict serious injuries with its teeth if handled.

Similar Species Largetooth Sawfish (P. perotteti) has only 19 teeth on each side of snout; first dorsal fin origin well ahead of pelvic fin insertion; in shallower water from Florida and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.

Habitat Estuaries, lower parts of large rivers, and shallow coastal waters.

Range From Chesapeake Bay to Brazil; Gulf of Mexico; rarely north to New York.

Discussion Used to obtain food, the saw is slashed from side to side among schooling fishes, stunning or killing them.