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Smalltooth Sawfish

The smalltooth sawfish’s long, tooth-lined “saw” isn’t just for show—it uses it to slash and impale as well as detect prey hidden in the mud.

 

The smalltooth sawfish was once was found throughout coastal waters and estuaries in the Atlantic Ocean, but its range has shrunk considerably in recent decades. It is now only known to have potentially viable populations in the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico and southeast United States, although unconfirmed sightings occasionally pop up in its former range. Although they can survive in freshwater and even travel up rivers, they prefer brackish or saltwater habitats. Although the smalltooth sawfish may look like a shark with its broad, flattened body, it’s actually a ray! While it may resemble a sawshark on first glance, the two aren’t actually close relatives.

The most defining trait of these fish is its long, flat rostrum, or “saw,” lined with sharp teeth on either side. This structure is packed with sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini that can detect the faint electrical signals produced by other animals. They use their rostrum to both locate and capture prey—swinging it side to side to stun or injure fish and crustaceans before eating them. Young sawfish often rely on protective shallow estuary waters, where they are safer from predators as they grow. Once they are full grown, smalltooth sawfish are known to reach up to 5 meters (16.4 feet)– a size that keeps them largely safe from predators!

 

 

The smalltooth sawfish is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and faces two serious human-caused threats.

Overfishing and Bycatch

These rays are highly vulnerable to being entangled and caught incidentally by both commercial and small-scale fishers, as their toothed saw easily becomes entangled in a variety of fishing gear. Like many other sharks and rays, smalltooth sawfish have value in both the fin and meat trade, meaning that fishers are highly likely to keep any caught rays to sell rather than attempting to return them live to the water.

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss, especially the destruction of mangroves, estuaries, and coasts, has drastically reduced its range. These habitats provide crucial nurseries for juvenile smalltooth sharks, and without them, young rays face a lowered chance of survival.

 

 

Multiple efforts have been put in place to try and slow the decline of this remarkable species. International commercial trade in smalltooth sawfish has been banned, and the United States has listed them under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to increase their protections from their biggest threats. However, their population is still decreasing – and threats to the ESA could eliminate key safeguards keeping this species alive. Add your name to defend threatened species like the smalltooth sawfish and the legislation that they depend on here.

 

 

 

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