(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 green sawfish can be distinguished by the number of teeth, with 24-28 pairs unevenly-spaced along the rostrum. The dorsal fin is tall and pointed. The dorsal surface is greenish brown or olive green. The ventral surface is pale or white.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Critically endangered

Length: Up to 7 m

Habitat

Estuaries and nearshore waters (marine, freshwater, estuarine); 0-10 m depth

Log it

In Western Australia, log this species south of Exmouth

Related links/info

Species names on the Redmap site are based on the Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota or CAAB (http://www.cmar.csiro.au/caab/). This is updated regularly and lists the approved common name, family, species name and more.

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

Find further information and images at FISHES OF AUSTRALIA http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/

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