1. Order: Pristiophoriformes Family: Pristiophoridae (Sawsharks)
Etymology: Greek, pristis= “saw”

2. Taxonomy 2 genera, 5 species Pristiophorus Pliotrema
P. Cirratus (Longnose shark)
P. japonicus (Japanese sawshark)
P. nudipinnis (Shortnose sawshark)
P. schroderi (Bahamas sawshark)
4 undescribed species
Pliotrema
P. warreni
(Sixgill sawshark)

3. 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)

4. 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

5. Sawfish Superorder: Batoidea Order: Pristiformes Family: Pristidae
Much larger maximum size
No barbels
Evenly sized teeth
Gill slits on undersurface

6. Diagnostic Features ususa;;y distinguished by teeth count
Pliotrema warreni- Sixgill sawshark
6 pairs of gill openings
Found in W. Indian Ocean (SE coast of S. Africa)

7. 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?)

8. Pristiophorus japonicus- Japanese sawshark
15-26 teeth in front of barbels, behind
1st dorsal origin behind rear tip of pectorals
Found in W. Pacific

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. Reproduction/Life Span
Ovoviviparous 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

12. Habitat/Food Habits
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

13. 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

14. Bibliography
Carrier, J.C., et. al Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 55
Castro, J.I The sharks of North American waters. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX. pp
Compagno, L.J 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):
Krcmaric, D. and K. Francl "Pristiophorus cirratus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 16, 2007 at
Martin, R. Aidan.  2003.  Copyright and Usage Policy.  World Wide Web Publication,
Retrieved September 16th, 2007 from:
Slaughter, B. & Springer, S Replacement of Rostral Teeth in Sawfishes and
Sawsharks. Copeia Vol 1968 (#3- 8/3)1. pp: