sawfish

/saw"fish'/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) sawfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) sawfishes.

a large, elongated ray of the genus Pristis, living along tropical coasts and lowland rivers, with a bladelike snout bearing strong teeth on each side.

[1655-65; SAW¹ + FISH]

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Any of about six species (genus Pristis, family Pristidae) of sharklike ray.

Sawfishes have a long head, long body, and a long, toothed, bladelike snout. The largest attain lengths of 23 ft (7 m) or more. These bottom-dwellers inhabit shallow waters of subtropical and tropical bays and estuaries and sometimes swim up rivers. Some live in the freshwaters of Lake Nicaragua. They are not generally dangerous. Their saws are used either to dig out bottom animals or, when lashed about, to kill or maim schooling fishes. Sawfishes are good to eat when small; they are fished in some areas for food, oil, skins, and other products.

Sawfish (Pristis).

Karl H. Maslowski

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▪ fish

 any of several species of sharklike rays forming the genus Pristis and the family Pristidae. Sawfishes are found in shallow water in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. They are bottom dwellers, frequenting bays and estuaries and sometimes swimming considerable distances up rivers; some are also known to live and breed in the freshwaters of Lake Nicaragua. Sawfishes have a long, flattened head and body and an elongated snout, much like that of the saw shark, that forms a long, flat blade, edged with strong teeth. The largest sawfishes attain lengths of 7 m (23 feet) or more.

      Sawfishes are not generally considered dangerous, but their saws, constituting as much as one-third the total length, can be formidable. The saws are used in feeding, either in digging out bottom animals or, when lashed about, in killing or maiming schooling fishes. Sawfishes are reportedly good to eat when small; they are fished in some areas for food, oil, skins, and other products.

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