Order: PristiophoriformesFamily: Pristiophoridae

(Sawsharks)

Etymology: Greek, pristis= “saw”

Taxonomy

• 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

2 genera, 5 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

– Much larger maximum size– No barbels– Evenly sized teeth– Gill slits on undersurface

Diagnostic Featuresususa;;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

• 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• 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 1- Hexanchiformes 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.elasmo-research.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.