Diet: Smalltooth Sawfish feed on mostly fish, but occasionally crustaceans.
Habitat: Shallow coastal waters of tropical seas and estuaries throught the world. They are found very close to the shore over sandy and muddy bottoms> often being found in sheltered bays, on shallow banks, and in estuaries or river mouths. Smalltooth Sawfish are known as one of the few elasmobranchs that live in freshwater systems in many parts of the world. They have been reported in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. They are relatively common only in the Everglades region of Florida.
Description: The Smalltooth Sawfish belongs to a class called elasmobranchs, whose skeletons are made of cartilage. They have a shark-like body, and gill slits on their ventral sides. They got their name from their "saws," which are long and flat snouts with pairs of teeth which are used to locate, stun, and kill their prey. They grow up to 18 feet, but may reach 25 feet.
Breeding: Smalltooth Sawfish are ovoviviparous, meaning that the mother holds eggs inside of her until the young are ready to be born. They usually have between 15 and 20 pups.
Population and Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED!! The Smalltooth Sawfish has declined dramatically in United States water over the past century. There are no accurate estimates of abundance trends are avalable for this species.
These articles were written by Willie Howard on April 2, 2003 in the Palm Beach Post
