How to Identify Sawshark

To identify Sawshark (Pristiophorus), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Typically grey to brownish on the dorsal side, lighter on the ventral side. Some species may have faint darker blotches or bands. The rostrum is often lighter.

Scale type

placoid

Mouth position

inferior

Distinctive features

Long, flattened, saw-like rostrum with lateral denticles (teeth) of alternating sizes., A pair of prominent barbels located midway along the rostrum., Two dorsal fins without spines., No anal fin., Five or six gill slits (depending on species, e.g., sixgill sawshark, Pliotrema kajae, P. annae, P. warreni).

Dorsal fin

Two distinct dorsal fins, spineless, relatively small and set far back on the body. The first dorsal fin originates behind the pectoral fin bases.

Tail fin

Heterocercal caudal fin, with the upper lobe significantly longer than the lower lobe, typical of sharks.

Pectoral fin

Moderately sized, broad pectoral fins.

Distinctive fins

Absence of an anal fin is a key distinguishing feature from other sharks.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Rostrum (Saw)

   The most defining feature. It is long, flattened, and blade-like, with sharp, alternating large and small teeth along its edges. This distinguishes them from sawfishes (Pristidae) which have equally sized teeth and no barbels.

2. 2

   Barbels

   A pair of prominent, whisker-like barbels are located on the underside of the rostrum, usually about halfway between the tip and the mouth. These are sensory organs used to detect prey.

3. 3

   Gill Slits

   Most Pristiophorus species have five gill slits, but the genus Pliotrema (also sawsharks) has six gill slits. Counting these can help differentiate between genera.

4. 4

   Body Shape

   Slender, somewhat flattened body, especially anteriorly, with a relatively long snout and small eyes.

5. 5

   Fins

   Two spineless dorsal fins and no anal fin. The caudal fin is heterocercal.

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