Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Family: PRISTIDAE, Sawfishes, Sawfish

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long saw with robust teeth, no barbels
head flat, body shark-like
2 large Ds, D1 over pelvics
5 gill slits, under head
pectorals large, broad
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Species in this Family (2) Similar Families (1)

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FAMILY PRISTIDAE

SAWFISHES

Sawfishes are large fishes (to 5 m); 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 large, flattened teeth along each side; eyes and spiracles on top of head; mouth wide, underneath; 5 gill slits under head; 2 large, shark-like, widely separated dorsal fins, 1st over the triangular pelvics; pectorals triangular, attached to rear of head; no anal fin; tail large, stout, fin broad, with at most a tiny lower lobe; body covered with flat denticles.

Currently two genera and four species are recognized from the tropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Two members of one genus occur in the Greater Caribbean.

PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON, AFTER MCEACHRAN & CARVALHO (2002)


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