Pristis clavata
The dwarf sawfish belongs to a group of fish—called elasmobranchs—that includes rays, skates, and sharks. The dwarf sawfish is one of five species of sawfishes. Although sawfishes have shark-like bodies, they are actually a type of ray. They are named after their "saws" (rostra)—long, flat snouts edged with teeth. The dwarf sawfish is listed as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act.
Dwarf sawfish are smaller than other sawfish, with the largest reaching a length of about 11 feet. Like other sawfish species, dwarf sawfish are known for their “saws,” flat snouts edged with 19 to 23 teeth (males) and 20 to 22 teeth (females). Their shark-like bodies are olive-brown and covered with teeth-like scales called dermal denticles. Dwarf sawfish have gill slits on their underside.
Dwarf sawfish can be confused with related species, including the Green sawfish and largetooth sawfish.
Dwarf sawfish use their saws to find, stun, and kill their prey. They eat mostly small schooling fish, but also sometimes eat crustaceans and mollusks.
Historically, dwarf sawfish were found in the Indo-Pacific, western Pacific, and eastern Indian Oceans. Today, their range is generally limited to the waters of north and northwest Australia. There are now very few records of dwarf sawfish in the Indian Ocean or other parts of the Indo-Pacific outside of northwest Australia.
Dwarf sawfish occur in the shallow waters of coasts and estuaries, where rivers meet the sea. They are sometimes found in rivers up to 6 miles upstream. Like other sawfish species, they prefer the muddy bottoms of their waters.
World map providing approximate representation of the dwarf sawfish's range.
Dwarf sawfish can live up to 34 years (Peverell 2009, Moreno Iturria 2012) Adults reach sexual maturity when they are 8 years old.
Dwarf sawfish are "yolk-sac viviparous"—their young are attached to yolk sacs that nourish the embryo inside the mother's body and emerge as fully developed pups. The pups are born with their saw fully developed, but it is very flexible and sheathed to avoid injuring the mother at birth (the sheath dissolves quickly thereafter). A mother dwarf sawfish can have up to 13 pups per litter. Newborn sawfish are approximately 2 feet long at birth. Dwarf sawfish reach sexual maturity around 8 years of age and lengths of 8.5 feet. .
Shallow habitats provide important nurseries for young dwarf sawfish. However, many of these habitats have been damaged or lost.
Dwarf sawfish can become entangled or captured in commercial fishing gear, including nets, lines, and trawls. These interactions can cause the fish to be injured or killed.
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Chondrichthyes | Order | Pristiformes | Family | Pristidae | Genus | Pristis | Species | clavata |
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Tonya Wiley of Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Adam Brame of NOAA Fisheries, and Rachel Scharer of the Florida Wildlife Research Institute host the International Sawfish Day exhibit at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida.
