Species: Pristis pristis, Largetooth Sawfish

Pristis pristis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Largetooth Sawfish

Body depressed at front, shark-like; head, pectorals and front of body in a large diamond shaped disc, ending in an elongate, flattened snout equipped with a row of 17-20 large, flattened teeth along each side; eyes and spiracles on top of head; mouth wide, underneath; gills under head; 2 large, shark-like, widely separated dorsal fins, origin of first dorsal fin well before pelvic fin origin; pectorals triangular, attached to rear of head; no anal fin; tail large, stout, fin broad, with a small lower lobe; body covered with flat denticles.

Dark grey to golden brown, whitish on ventral surface; specimens in freshwater are pale grey.

Grows to about 656 cm and estimated weight of 590 kg.

Inhabits shallow bays and estuaries, also entering rivers.

Depth: 1-26 m.

Probably only found in the east and west Atlantic; the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.