Order: Pristiophoriformes
Family: Pristiophoridae
(Sawsharks)
Etymology: Greek, pristis= “saw”
Taxonomy
2 genera, 5 species
• Pliotrema
– P. warreni
(Sixgill sawshark)
• Pristiophorus
– P. Cirratus (Longnose shark)
– P. japonicus (Japanese sawshark)
– P. nudipinnis (Shortnose sawshark)
– P. schroderi (Bahamas sawshark)
– 4 undescribed species
General Characteristics
• 5-6 gill slits
• Large spiracles behind
eyes
• 2 large dorsal fins (no
spines)
• Somewhat long dorsal
lobe on caudal fin (no
ventral lobe)
General Characteristics
• Small sharks, <2 m
• Benthic/benthopelagic,
up to & > 366 m
• Sawlike snout=rostrum
• Rostral barbels on
ventral side of snout
• Teeth replaced (unlike
sawfish) when lost,
alternate sizes
Sawfish
• Superorder: Batoidea
• Order: Pristiformes
• Family: Pristidae
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Much larger maximum size
No barbels
Evenly sized teeth
Gill slits on undersurface
Diagnostic Features
ususa;;y distinguished by teeth count
• Pliotrema warreni- Sixgill sawshark
– 6 pairs of gill openings
– Found in W. Indian Ocean (SE coast of S. Africa)
• Pristiophorus cirratus- Longnose sawshark
– 9-10 teeth in front of barbels, 9 behind
– 1st dorsal origin behind rear tips of pectorals
– Found in W. Pacific (Australia, Philippines?)
• Pristiophorus japonicus- Japanese sawshark
– 15-26 teeth in front of barbels, 9-17+ behind
– 1st dorsal origin behind rear tip of pectorals
– Found in W. Pacific
• Pristiophorus nudipinnis- Shortnose
sawshark
– 13 teeth in front of barbels, 6 behind
– 1st dorsal opposite free rear tips of pectorals
– Found in S. Pacific (southern shelf of Australia)
• Pristiophorus schroederi- Bahamas sawshark
– 13-14 teeth in front of barbels, 9-10 behind
– 1st dorsal opposite free rear tips of pectorals
– Found in W. Atlantic (region btwn. Cuba, FL, and
Bahamas)
Reproduction/Life Span
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Ovoviviparous- 7-17 pups (average of 10)
Gestation ~ 12 months
Reach maturity ~ 2 years
Parents provide food and protection during
post-birth (duration unknown, 1.5 years?)
• Breed seasonally, every two years
• Have been known to live up to 15 years in wild
Habitat/Food Habits
• 640-950 m in and around cont’l & insular
shelves & upper slopes
• Feed on , shrimp, squids, & crustaceans
• Cruise along bottom using barbels & ampullae
of Lorenzini on saw to detect prey in mud or
sand
• Attack prey w/ side to side swipes of the saw
Commercial Value/Predators
• Longnose sawshark and Shortnose sawshark
caught commercially off Australia
• Japanese sawfish highly valued for making
“kamaboko”- tradional Japanese fishcake
• Humans are main predator (trawl fishing),
also larger sharks
Bibliography
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Carrier, J.C., et. al. 2004. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. CRC Press, Boca
Raton, FL. p. 55
Castro, J.I. 1983. The sharks of North American waters. Texas A&M University Press,
College Station, TX. pp.35-36.
Compagno, L.J. 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the World. An
annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1): 1-249.
Krcmaric, D. and K. Francl. 2006. "Pristiophorus cirratus" (On-line), Animal Diversity
Web. Accessed September 16, 2007 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pristiophorus
_cirratus.html.
Martin, R. Aidan. 2003. Copyright and Usage Policy. World Wide Web Publication,
Retrieved September 16th, 2007 from: http://www.elasmoresearch.org/education/shark_profiles/pristiophoriformes.htm.
Slaughter, B. & Springer, S. 1968. Replacement of Rostral Teeth in Sawfishes and
Sawsharks. Copeia Vol 1968 (#3- 8/3)1. pp: 499-506.