Largetooth Sawfish Pristis pristis species information - Fact Sheet
Abstract:

Conservation Status of Largetooth Sawfish Pristis pristis

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered
Commonwealth: Vulnerable
Northern Territory: Vulnerable

Description

The Largetooth Sawfish is a large sawfish with 17-23 evenly spaced teeth on each side of the rostrum, with the teeth starting near rostral base, a dorsal fin beginning well forward of the pelvic fins, and a small lower lobe to the caudal fin.

Size

Born at about 70-90 cm in length and reported to reach 700 cm, although sizes that big are rarely seen.

Notes

A unique sawfish in that it spends 4-5 years in rivers and billabongs as juveniles before moving out to sea. It is known from various rivers across northern Australia, as well as from estuaries and coastal environments. This species has suffered considerable declines across the rest of its Indo-West Pacific range, and northern Australia represents a remaining population stronghold. In the Indo-West Pacific region, this species was formally called the Freshwater Sawfish Pristis microdon; see news story here

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