Date: october 17
International Sawfish Day celebrates one of the ocean’s most fascinating creatures — the sawfish. Known for their long, saw-like snouts, these rare marine animals are crucial to ocean health and conservation efforts.
🌊 Sawfish Are Actually Rays
Despite their shark-like shape, sawfish belong to the ray family.
They have a flattened body, similar to other rays, but not as wide.
Their caudal fins help them swim more like sharks than typical rays.
Sawfish can thrive in both shallow coastal areas and deeper waters.
🧬 Five Unique Sawfish Species
There are five living species of sawfish, grouped into two genera.
Pristis genus: Largetooth, Smalltooth, Dwarf, and Green Sawfish
Anoxypristis genus: Narrow Sawfish
This classification was agreed upon by scientists in 2013.
🐟 Not Sawsharks or Swordfish
Sawfish are often confused with sawsharks or swordfish — but they’re different.
Sawsharks live in deep waters and have barbels on their snouts.
Swordfish have smooth, toothless “swords” and are unrelated.
Understanding these differences is key to conservation.
🪚 The Iconic Saw
The "saw" is an extended snout (rostrum) made of cartilage.
It’s lined with rostral teeth, giving it a true saw appearance.
Contains ampullae of Lorenzini to detect prey via electric signals.
Used to slash through fish schools and pin prey on the seabed.
📏 Giant fish of the Sea
Some sawfish grow over 6 meters (20 feet) in length.
Largetooth, smalltooth, and green sawfish are the largest.
Dwarf and narrow species average around 3 meters.
🚰 Freshwater Adventurers
Largetooth sawfish often migrate into freshwater rivers and lakes.
Found in Lake nicaragua and deep into the amazon River.
Other species prefer saltwater, showing diverse adaptability.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel