Species Type:
Sharks & Rays
Common Name(s):
Smalltooth sawfish
Size:
Smalltooth sawfish can grow up to 16 feet (4.6 meters) long and weight several hundred pounds.
Diet:
Sawfish eat mostly fish but will also feed on invertebrates like shrimp and crab.
Range & Habitat:
These sawfish live in the coastal waters of the ocean and in estuaries (where freshwater rivers meet the ocean). They can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Details:
The smalltooth sawfish gets its name from its saw-like snout, lined with sharp teeth to help detect prey and slash through fish schools. With a gray-brown body and pale underside, they breathe through gills like rays. Sawfish, a type of ray, give birth to fully formed pups, that have a protective sheath covering their saws to prevent injury to the mother.