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

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)

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)

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

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

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)

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?)

Pristiophorus japonicus- Japanese sawshark 15-26 teeth in front of barbels, 9-17+ behind 1st dorsal origin behind rear tip of pectorals Found in W. Pacific

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)

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)

Reproduction/Life Span Ovoviviparous- 7-17 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

Habitat/Food Habits 640-950 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

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

Bibliography Carrier, J.C., et. al. 2004. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 55 Castro, J.I. 1983. The sharks of North American waters. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX. pp.35-36. Compagno, L.J. 1984. 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): 1-249. Krcmaric, D. and K. Francl. 2006. "Pristiophorus cirratus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 16, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pristiophorus_cirratus.html. Martin, R. Aidan.  2003.  Copyright and Usage Policy.  World Wide Web Publication, Retrieved September 16th, 2007 from: http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/pristiophoriformes.htm. Slaughter, B. & Springer, S. 1968. Replacement of Rostral Teeth in Sawfishes and Sawsharks. Copeia Vol 1968 (#3- 8/3)1. pp: 499-506.