At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The largetooth sawfish is a large ray with a long, tooth-studded snout (rostrum). It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It uses its saw to sense and strike prey, but the same saw makes it highly prone to entanglement in nets.
Range & habitat
Historically widespread in warm coastal waters and rivers; now greatly reduced.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Entanglement in fishing nets (its saw is easily caught)
- Habitat loss
- Past targeted fishing
Why it matters
Once widespread and now vanished from much of its range, the largetooth sawfish is among the most threatened of all sharks and rays and a priority for marine and river conservation.
Sources
Sources for Largetooth Sawfish
- IUCN Red List — look up Largetooth Sawfish (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a sawfish use its saw for?
The saw (rostrum) is studded with sensory organs and teeth; the sawfish uses it to detect and stun prey. Unfortunately, it also snags easily in fishing nets.
Why is the largetooth sawfish Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss, and past targeted fishing, which have wiped it out across much of its former range. See the IUCN Red List.
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