The smalltooth sawfish is the last thing any swimmer wants to see lurking around. It has the body of a shark, the face of a stingray, and a nose that resembles a chainsaw.
The sawfish, which can grow to be more than 18 feet long and is named for his unusual rostrum, which is laced with pairs of razor-sharp teeth, may look frightening, but this ominous-looking animal is misunderstood and desperately needs some compassion.
Teeth aside, the animal has far more in common with its relative the stingray than a shark. The fish is typically peaceful and timid around humans, far more interested in using his long bill and teeth (also known as denticles) to stun small fish, dig and defend against predators than starting any fights.
Once a familiar sight in the warm waters surrounding the Carolinas, Florida, Texas, and even as far north as New York, the smalltooth sawfish’s range and population in North America has declined by 95 percent over the last century, according to the IUCN Red List. It’s now critically endangered.
Overfishing — both intentional and accidental — is primarily to blame for the plummeting population. The species is used in shark fin soup and prized in the Asian markets for medicinal purposes. Its long nose makes it an easy target for any fishing line or net, and is often sold as a souvenir.
The Center for Biological Diversity states that people murdered sawfish as a novelty to be stuffed and put on a wall throughout the twentieth century because of its bill, which makes it particularly vulnerable to capture by fishermen’s nets. Smalltooth sawfish are still under risk from fishing. Fishermen occasionally kill sawfish to prevent their nets from tearing because gillnets entangle the fish.
The sawtooth population, which is now primarily restricted to a few locations in southern Florida, has likewise been severely damaged by habitat loss. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requests that any sightings of the severely endangered animal be reported because it is so uncommon and elusive.
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