Pristidae-Rafferty

Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis Pectinata)

__ Movement __ The Smalltooth Sawfish has an interesting body shape that enhances its speed. The body structure and layout of different fins is almost identical to a shark. This helps its speed and accuracy when in pursuit of its prey.

__ Metabolism __ This animal doesn’t always use its saw to catch prey. It uses other features of its body to its advantage like its flat body. Because of its mouth on it’s underneath side it doesn’t always have to use its saw. Then again the sawfish can capture small fish by thrashing its saw and stabbing the fish. It will then proceed to scrape the prey off and consumes it.

__ Growth and Development __ The time it takes for a Smalltooth Sawfish to grow and develop is unknown. Although it is known that as a full grown adult it is on average about 18ft long. The longest recorded sawfish ever was an outstanding 24.7 ft. The average weight of a sawfish is still a mystery today.

__ Response to Stimuli __ The sawfish’s shark like fins helps it when catching small fish. Also like a ray it has its mouth on the underside of it. This allows it to eat crustaceans on the ocean floor. Lastly, the sawfish can withstand bodies of freshwater including rivers and certain bays.

__ Reproduction __ A sawfish on average will gestate for about 1 year. The gestation period is short considering that it gives birth to approximately 15 to 20 sawfish per litter. A pup’s saw does not injure a mother. It has a flexible saw that is covered with a soft tissue.

__ Classification __ Kingdom-Animalia Phylum-Chordata Class-Chondrichthymes Order-Pristiformes Family-Pristidae Genus-Pristis Species-Pectinata

__ Species __ Freshwater Sawfish Queensland Sawfish Green Sawfish Narrow Knifetooth Sawfish Largetooth Sawfish __ Family __ The Smalltooth Sawfish’s family, Pristidae includes species like the Freshwater Sawfish, Green Sawfish, Narrow Knifetooth Sawfish, Queensland Sawfish and the Largetooth Sawfish. They all share characteristics like they have no bones but cartilage and a long saw.

__ Other __ There are no male and female differences besides the reproductive cells. The sawfish is critically endangered because in the 20th century people would kill the sawfish for the saw as a trophy or to sell it for a decent price. The only predator they have is humans.

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By: Andrew Rafferty