Genus: Pristis, Sawfishes
snout = large saw
PRISTIS
SAWFISHES
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; gills 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.
This circumtropical genus occurs in all three oceans, except for the central Pacific. It may contain as many as six species; two of which occur in our area.
