Sawfish, also known as carpenter sharks, are a family of rays characterized by a long, narrow, flattened rostrum, or nose extension, lined with sharp transverse teeth, arranged in a way that resembles a saw. They are among the largest fish, with some species reaching lengths of about 7–7.6 m (23–25 ft). They are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine and brackish estuarine waters, as well as freshwater rivers and lakes. All species are endangered.
The narrow sawfish, also known as the pointed sawfish or knifetooth sawfish, is a species of sawfish in the family Pristidae, part of the Batoidea, a superorder of cartilaginous fish that include the rays and skates. Sawfish display a circumglobal distribution in warm marine and freshwater habitats. Their extant biodiversity is limited to five species belonging to two genera. The sawfishes are characterised by the long, narrow, flattened rostrum or extension on their snout. This is lined with sharp transverse teeth, arranged in a way that resembles the teeth of a saw and are used for killing prey. It is found in the shallow coastal waters and estuaries of the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Persian Gulf to southern Japan, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It is the only living member of the genus Anoxypristis, but was previously included in the genus Pristis. Compared to Pristis, Anoxypristis has a narrower rostral saw with numerous teeth on the distal part and no teeth on the basal one-quarter. It reaches a length of up to 3.5 m (11 ft).
The dwarf sawfish or Queensland sawfish, Pristis clavata, is a sawfish of the family Pristidae, found in tropical Australia. This endangered species is the smallest species in its family.
The largetooth sawfish is a species of sawfish in the family Pristidae. It is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical coastal regions, but also enters freshwater. It has declined drastically and is now critically endangered.
The smalltooth sawfish is a species of sawfish in the family Pristidae. It is found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters in coastal and estuarine parts of the Atlantic. Reports from elsewhere are now believed to be misidentifications of other species of sawfish. It is a critically endangered species that has disappeared from much of its historical range.
The longcomb sawfish, narrowsnout sawfish or green sawfish is a species of sawfish in the family Pristidae, found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific. It has declined drastically and is now considered a critically endangered species.
Ctenopristis is a prehistoric genus of sawfish whose fossils are found in rocks dating from the Maastrichtian stage in Jordan. The anterior teeth of Ctenopristis have a high cusp compared to certain other ancient sawfish genera.
Schizorhiza is an extinct genus of schizorhizid sclerorhynchoid that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It contains one valid species, Schizorhiza stromeri. It lived from the Campanian to Maastrichtian, and its fossils have been found in Africa, the Middle East, North America, and South America.
Conulus is an extinct genus of echinoids that lived in the Cretaceous. Remains of Conulus species have been found in Asia, Europe, and North America.
Ischyrhiza is an extinct genus of sclerorhynchoid ray from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Maastrichtian).
Pristis is a genus of sawfish of the family Pristidae. These large fish are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine waters, estuaries, and freshwater lakes and rivers. Sawfish have declined drastically and all species are considered critically endangered today.
Onchopristis is an extinct genus of sclerorhynchoid from the Cretaceous of North Africa, Europe, and North America. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek ónkos and prístis. It contains two valid species, O. numida and O. dunklei, though some researchers argue that both may be considered a single taxon with variation in morphology caused by a wide geographical range. Specimens of Onchopristis have been discovered in coastal and fluvial deposits dated from the Barremian to the Maastrichtian age, making this genus one of the oldest and longest-lived sclerorhynchoid genera.
Ptychotrygon is a genus of sawfish-like ray whose fossils have been found worldwide from the Cretaceous period (Albian-Maastrichtian). Along with Ptychotrygonoides, Texatrygon, and Asflapristis, it is the member of the family Ptychotrygonidae within the suborder Sclerorhynchoidei.
Schizaster is a genus of heart urchins belonging to the family Schizasteridae. The type species of the genus is Schizaster studeri.
Pristis lathami is a species of extinct sawfish in the family Pristidae. It lived in the Eocene era, in areas in Egypt, Nigeria, Togo, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Western Sahara, in marine areas, estuaries, bays, open shallow subtidal areas, coastal, marginal marine areas, deep waters, offshore, and fluvial-deltaic areas. P. lathami has 53 occurrences, with 1 being found in Egypt with a rostal tooth about 10 cm in length.
Iberotrygon is an extinct genus of sclerorhynchiform ray from the Cenomanian Mosqueruela Formation of Spain. Only the single species I. plagiolophus, is known; it was named and described in 2009. It is known from the holotype MPZ 2005-33, an antero-lateral tooth, and the parartypes MPZ 2005-34, four well-preserved teeth from a single juvenile?, and MPZ 2005-35, an isolated tooth.
Archingeayia is an extinct genus of sawskate from the Cretaceous period. The name is derived from the type locale of the type species: Archingeay−Les Nouillers, France. This genus is known currently by isolated oral teeth alone from a singular species, Archingeayia sistaci. The specific epithet honors geologist Paul Sistac. This species was described from the lower Cenomanian of France.
Baharipristis is an extinct genus of sawskate from the Cretaceous period. It contains a singular species, B. bastetiae. It was described from the Cenomanian-aged Bahariya formation of Gebel Ghorabi, Egypt based on distinctive isolated rostral teeth. It shares the formation with at least 9 other genera of Sclerorhynchid Saw-snouted sharks.
Echinolampas is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Echinolampadidae.
Propristis is an extinct genus of sawfish that lived from the Eocene to the Miocene. It contains two valid species, P. schweinfurthi and P. mayumbensis. It has been found in Egypt, Cabinda, Morocco, Qatar, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Isolated rostral denticles are the most common remains, but rostra have also been found.
