largetooth sawfish

fish

Also known as: Pristis perotteti, Pristis pristis

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) is one of five species of sharklike rays belonging to the family Pristidae. These fish inhabit shallow, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide, often found in bays, estuaries, and even freshwater rivers.1

Sawfishes are characterized by a long, flattened body and an elongated snout, or "saw," edged with strong teeth. This saw is used for feeding, digging for prey, and stunning fish. They are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young after eggs develop internally. Sawfishes can reach lengths of over 7 meters (23 feet).12

Unfortunately, all five sawfish species are classified as endangered, with the largetooth sawfish being critically endangered.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

sawfish
…up rivers; one species, the largetooth sawfish (P. pristis) lives and breeds in the fresh waters 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…
Read More
…up rivers; one species, the largetooth sawfish (P. pristis) lives and breeds in the fresh waters 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…
Read More