(Image credit: Dave Morgan)

The body’s of sawfish are sharklike, however, sawfish have gills on the bottom of their heads (ventral side). All sawfish have elongated snouts which form long, flat blades with teeth along each edge. The freshwater sawfish can be distinguished by the number of teeth, with 17-23 evenly-spaced along the rostrum. Dorsal surface golden to dark brown, white ventrally.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Critically endangered

Length: Up to 7 m

Habitat

Main channels of large rivers. Juveniles and sub-adults in rivers and estuaries, while larger adults offshore in coastal waters; 0-25 m depth

Log it

Log this species anywhere in Queensland
In Western Australia, log it south of Exmouth

Related links/info

Froese F, Pauly D (2011) Fishbase. www.fishbase.org

Seitz, Jason (2012) Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/education/questions/sawfishbiology.html

Last P.R. and Stevens J.D. (1994). Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia.

Last PR and Stevens JD. (2009). Sharks and Rays of Australia. 2nd Edition.

Team Sawfish, Murdoch University: http://www.freshwaterfishgroup.com/team-sawfish.php