1. Australian Sawfish Species

2. There are 4 known sawfish species in Australian Waters There are 4 known sawfish species in Australian Waters Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata) Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata) Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) Green sawfish (Pristis Zijsron) Green sawfish (Pristis Zijsron) Dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata) Dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata) These species occupy niches in marine estuarine These species occupy niches in marine estuarine and freshwater environments and freshwater environments

3. Narrow Sawfish Taxonomy Order - Pristiformes Family - Pristidae Genus - Anoxypristis Species - cuspidata Order - Pristiformes Family - Pristidae Genus - Anoxypristis Species - cuspidata Conservation status IUCN Red List - Critically endangered

4. Distribution and Habitat Most widely distributed and abundant sawfish in Queensland waters Most widely distributed and abundant sawfish in Queensland waters Favours inshore, coastal, mud and sand foreshores and bays mostly in juvenile stage Favours inshore, coastal, mud and sand foreshores and bays mostly in juvenile stage Large mature animals found offshore to depths of 40m Large mature animals found offshore to depths of 40m Rarely encountered upstream of river mouths in estuarine water Rarely encountered upstream of river mouths in estuarine water Primarily benthopelagic species Primarily benthopelagic species

5. Description Slender body Slender body Green-grey dorsally (top) and pale white ventrally (bottom) Green-grey dorsally (top) and pale white ventrally (bottom) First dorsal fin behind start of pelvic fin First dorsal fin behind start of pelvic fin Rostrum does not narrow towards the tip Rostrum does not narrow towards the tipDescriptors 18-22 pairs of teeth not extending onto base of saw 18-22 pairs of teeth not extending onto base of saw Deep fork in caudal fin Deep fork in caudal fin Smooth skin Smooth skinSize Attains a maximum size of 470cm Attains a maximum size of 470cmDiet Prawns, squid and fish Prawns, squid and fish

6. Fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishingUtilisation Meat and fins Meat and fins Rostrum for trophy collectors Rostrum for trophy collectors

7. Freshwater Sawfish Taxonomy Order - Pristiformes Family - Pristidae Genus - Pristis Species - microdon Conservation Status IUCN Red List - Critically endangered, NT fisheries - vulnerable

8. Distribution and Habitat Inhabits rivers of Princess Charlotte Bay on the east coast and all major rivers of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Inhabits rivers of Princess Charlotte Bay on the east coast and all major rivers of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Extremely low abundances on the east coast. Extremely low abundances on the east coast. Inhabits fresh and estuarine waters as juveniles and marine waters as adults Inhabits fresh and estuarine waters as juveniles and marine waters as adults Adults inhabit inshore waters and rivers during the monsoonal wet season to pup Adults inhabit inshore waters and rivers during the monsoonal wet season to pup

9. Description Large thick bodied sawfish Large thick bodied sawfish Skin yellowish colour dorsally and dirty cream ventrally on bottom Skin yellowish colour dorsally and dirty cream ventrally on bottom Rostrum narrows towards the tip Rostrum narrows towards the tipDescriptors 18-22 pair of teeth extending onto base of saw 18-22 pair of teeth extending onto base of saw First dorsal fin in front of pelvic fin origin First dorsal fin in front of pelvic fin origin Fork and lobe in caudal fin Fork and lobe in caudal fin Rough skin Rough skinSize Maximum reported size 700cm, commonly caught in rivers up to 250cm Maximum reported size 700cm, commonly caught in rivers up to 250cmDiet Prawns and fish Prawns and fish

10. Fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishingUtilisation Meat and fins Meat and fins Rostrum for trophy collectors Rostrum for trophy collectors Collection of live aquarium specimens Collection of live aquarium specimens

11. Dwarf Sawfish Taxonomy Order - Pristiformes Family - Pristidae Genus - Pristis Species - clavata Conservation Status IUCN Red List - Critically endangered; NT - vulnerable

12. Distribution and Habitat Very low numbers inhabit isolated regions of the northern and western Gulf of Carpentaria Very low numbers inhabit isolated regions of the northern and western Gulf of Carpentaria Very few reports of capture in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria Very few reports of capture in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria Inhabits coastal foreshores and embayments mostly as juveniles and marine waters as adults Inhabits coastal foreshores and embayments mostly as juveniles and marine waters as adults Adults frequent inshore waters throughout the year Adults frequent inshore waters throughout the year

13. Description Moderately large thick body Moderately large thick body Olive sandy brown dorsally and pale white ventrally Olive sandy brown dorsally and pale white ventrally Rostrum tapers distally Rostrum tapers distallyDescriptors 18-22 pair of teeth extending onto base of saw 18-22 pair of teeth extending onto base of saw 1st dorsal fin origin over pelvic fin origin 1st dorsal fin origin over pelvic fin origin No fork in caudal fin No fork in caudal fin Rough skin Rough skinSize Reported to attain at least 150cm, locally caught at 310cm Reported to attain at least 150cm, locally caught at 310cmDiet Prawns and fish Prawns and fish

14. Fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishingUtilisation Meat and fins Meat and fins Rostrum for trophy collectors Rostrum for trophy collectors Collection of live aquarium specimens Collection of live aquarium specimens

15. Green Sawfish Taxonomy Order - Pristiformes Family - Pristidae Genus - Pristis Species - zijsron Conservation Status IUCN Red List - Critically endangered; NSW – critically endangered; NT Fisheries - vulnerable

16. Distribution and Habitat Very low abundances in waters of southern and central Queensland Higher abundances in northern region including the Gulf of Carpentaria Live on muddy or sandy-mud soft bottom habitats Inhabit coastal foreshores and bays mostly as juveniles Inhabit marine waters to a depth greater than 40m as adults Adults known to seasonally frequent inshore waters and rivers during monsoonal months to pup Catches of green sawfish are very low and are highly variable

17. Description Large slender body Large slender body Olive brown-green dorsally and pale white ventrally Olive brown-green dorsally and pale white ventrally Rostrum does not narrow at tip Rostrum does not narrow at tipDescriptors 24-28 pair of teeth 24-28 pair of teeth Teeth are moreclosely spaced at tip and extend onto base of saw Teeth are moreclosely spaced at tip and extend onto base of saw No fork in caudal fin No fork in caudal fin 1st dorsal fin begins behind pelvic fin origin 1st dorsal fin begins behind pelvic fin origin Rough skin Rough skinSize Maximum reported size 730cm Maximum reported size 730cmDiet Prawns and fish Prawns and fish

18. Fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Commercial trawl, gill net and long line fisheries Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Recreational line fishery and bait collection using small mesh cast nets and seine nets Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Indigenous net and harpoon fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishing Foreign illegal gill net and line fishingUtilisation Meat and fins Meat and fins Rostrum for trophy collectors Rostrum for trophy collectors Collection of live aquarium specimens Collection of live aquarium specimens

19. 24-34 pairs of teeth 1 st dorsal fin begins behind pelvic fin Olive green colour Green sawfish Less than 24 pairs of teeth Teeth start close to head and spaced evenly or close to evenly 1 st dorsal fin begins slightly behind pelvic fins Green brown colour Dwarf sawfish 1 st dorsal fin begins in front pelvic fins Yellowish colour Freshwater sawfish 18-22 pairs of teeth beginning some distance from the head Greyish colour Narrow sawfish