Catalog of Fishes
literature references
FishBase
NCBI GenBank
Pristis microdon
Latham, 1794
Largetooth sawfish
Classification: Elasmobranchii Rhinopristiformes Pristidae
Reference of the original description
An essay on the various species of Sawfish. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 2, 273–282
An essay on the various species of Sawfish. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 2, 273–282
Description :
Citation: Pristis microdon Latham, 1794: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 04/2024
Common names
Kleingezahnter Sägefisch, Leichthardts Sägefisch, 
Catanuda, Dienton, Pejesierra, Pez peine, Pez rastrillo, Sierra, 
Poisson scie, Poisson-scie grandent, 
Freshwater sawfish, Great-tooth Sawfish, Greattooth sawfish, Largetooth sawfish, Leichhardts sawfish, Northern sawfish, Sawfish, Small toothed saw fish, Small-tooth sawfish, Smalltooth sawfish, Smalltoothed sawfish, Wide sawfish, Wide snouted saw fish, 
Araguaguai, Araguaguá, Peixe-serra, Tubarão-serra, Tubarão-serra dentuço
Kleingezahnter Sägefisch, Leichthardts Sägefisch, Catanuda, Dienton, Pejesierra, Pez peine, Pez rastrillo, Sierra, Poisson scie, Poisson-scie grandent, Freshwater sawfish, Great-tooth Sawfish, Greattooth sawfish, Largetooth sawfish, Leichhardts sawfish, Northern sawfish, Sawfish, Small toothed saw fish, Small-tooth sawfish, Smalltooth sawfish, Smalltoothed sawfish, Wide sawfish, Wide snouted saw fish, Araguaguai, Araguaguá, Peixe-serra, Tubarão-serra, Tubarão-serra dentuço
Short Description
A heavily-bodied sawfish with a short but massive saw which is broad-based, strongly tapering and with 14-22 very large teeth on each side; space between last 2 saw-teeth on sides less than 2 times space between first 2 teeth [536]. Pectoral fins high and angular, 1st dorsal fin mostly in front of pelvic fins, and caudal fin with pronounced lower lobe [536]. Greenish, grey or golden-brown above, cream below [536].
A heavily-bodied sawfish with a short but massive saw which is broad-based, strongly tapering and with 14-22 very large teeth on each side; space between last 2 saw-teeth on sides less than 2 times space between first 2 teeth [536]. Pectoral fins high and angular, 1st dorsal fin mostly in front of pelvic fins, and caudal fin with pronounced lower lobe [536]. Greenish, grey or golden-brown above, cream below [536].
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Viet Nam, south to Australia. Also Atlantic and eastern Pacific if Pristis perotteti and Pristis zephyreus are synonymized with this species. The original description of Pristis microdon did not give a locality, but most authors have used the name Pristis microdon for the Indo-West Pacific sawfishes of this species group as contrasted from the Atlantic Pristis perotteti and the eastern Pacific Pristis zephyreus.
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Viet Nam, south to Australia. Also Atlantic and eastern Pacific if Pristis perotteti and Pristis zephyreus are synonymized with this species. The original description of Pristis microdon did not give a locality, but most authors have used the name Pristis microdon for the Indo-West Pacific sawfishes of this species group as contrasted from the Atlantic Pristis perotteti and the eastern Pacific Pristis zephyreus.
Human uses
fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family
fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family
Biology
Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk [733]. Gestation period about 5 months [541]; litter size 1- 13 [536]. Probably breeds in freshwater [2539].
Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk [733]. Gestation period about 5 months [541]; litter size 1- 13 [536]. Probably breeds in freshwater [2539].
Size / Weight / Age
700 cm TL (male/unsexed; [2539]); max. published weight: 600.0 kg [7176]; max. reported age: 30 years [541]
700 cm TL (male/unsexed; [2539]); max. published weight: 600.0 kg [7176]; max. reported age: 30 years [541]
Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=5071;
shark-references Species-ID=5071;
Parasites (arranged by Jürgen Pollerspöck)
Monogenea
Cestoda
Nematoda
Copepoda
Monogenea
- Dermopristis paradoxus Kearn, Whittington & Evans-Gowing, 2010 [15240]
- Nonacotyle pristis Ogawa, 1991 [7239]
- Pristonchocotyle papuensis Ogawa, 1991 [7239]
Cestoda
- Pterobothrium fragile (Diesing, 1850) [16112]
Nematoda
- Euterranova pristis (Baylis & Daubney, 1922) [17029]
Copepoda
