Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794)

Knifetooth sawfish

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Elasmobranchii \| Pristiformes \| Pristidae
Synonyms	Squalus semisagittatus, ... more
Common names	Pointed sawfish, Pointed sawfish, Narrow sawfish, ... more

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Image of Anoxypristis cuspidata (Knifetooth sawfish)

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Mould, B. 1994. (Ref. 8630)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : McEachran, John | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 470 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9859)

Environment

Benthopelagic; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m (Ref. 9859), usually ? - 40 m (Ref. 55270)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 43°N - 18°S, 33°E - 152°E (Ref. 55270)

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia (Ref. 9859). Formerly common in the Western Central Pacific, apparently declining in some areas (Ref. 47737).
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Greyish above, pale below; fins usually pale. Body shark-like, pectoral fins distinct; head flattened, with a blade-like snout bearing 18-22 pairs of lateral teeth; blade slender, not tapering distally. Nostrils very narrow with small nasal flaps. Rostral teeth short, flattened, broadly triangular, lacking a groove along posterior margins; no teeth on basal quarter of blade. Adults with widely spaced denticles, young with naked skin.

Found inshore, often in river deltas and estuaries; penetration well up rivers needs confirmation (Ref. 9859). Common in sheltered bays with sandy bottoms. Feeds on small fish and cuttlefish (Ref. 9859). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Generally harmless but its saw-like snout may cause serious injury when caught: it is known thrash violently and vigorously (Ref. 9859). Caught for its flesh and liver (which is rich in oil) in some parts of Asia (Ref. 6871). Maximum lengths of up to 610 cm TL are based on unconfirmed reports (Ref. 9859).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bcd+3cd+4bcd)	Harmless (Ref. 9859)

Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

Tools
Biogeographic modelling \| E-book \| Field guide \| Identification keys \| Length-frequency wizard \| Life-history tool \| Point map

Special reports
Check for Aquarium maintenance \| Check for Species Fact Sheets \| Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high vulnerability (78 of 100)	Medium

Entered by Sa-a, Pascualita

Modified by Kesner-Reyes, Kathleen

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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