Sawfish

Sawfishes, 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 m (23 ft).[2] They are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine and brackish estuarinewaters, as well as freshwater rivers and lakes.[3]
They should not be confused with sawsharks (order Pristiophoriformes) or the extinct sclerorhynchids (order Sclerorhynchiformes) which have a similar appearance, or swordfish (family Xiphiidae) which have a similar name but very different appearance.[1][4]
Sawfishes are relatively slow breeders and the females give birth to live young.[2] They feed on fish and invertebrates that are detected and captured with the use of their saw.[5] They are generally harmless to humans, but can inflict serious injuries when captured and defending themselves with the saw.[6]
Sawfish have been known and hunted for thousands of years,[7] and play an important mythological and spiritual role in many societies around world.[8]
Once common, sawfish have experienced a drastic decline in recent decades, and the only remaining strongholds are in Northern Australia and Florida, United States.[4][9] The five species are rated as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN.[10] They are heavily persecuted for their fins (shark fin soup), use of parts as traditional medicine, their teeth and saw. They also face habitat loss.[4]Sawfish have been listed by CITES since 2007, restricting international trade in them and their parts.[11][12] They are protected in Australia, the United States and several other countries, meaning that sawfish caught by accident have to be released and violations can be punished with hefty fines.[13][14]
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures
Category:Fish