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Bahamas Sawshark
Pristiophoriformes

Bahamas Sawshark

Pristiophorus schroederi

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Max Length

0.8m

Overview

A small deep-water sawshark with a long rostrum armed with rostral teeth used to slash prey. Not to be confused with the distantly related sawfish. Found in the deep waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Habitat

On or near the bottom of continental and insular slopes, between 1437 to 3123.4 ft [438 to 952 m] deep.

Distribution

Western Atlantic & Caribbean

Northwest Atlantic between Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas.

Behavior

Unknown.

Appearance

Bahamas Sawshark illustration
Dorsal
Uniform, un-patterned light grey above and whitish below. It has darker brownish stripes along its rostrum midline and edges. Its pectoral fins are light-edged and the dorsal fins of juveniles have a dark anterior edge.

Dentition

Upper jaw
The shark has 23 large, lateral sawteeth, 13 before and 10 behind the barbels. Juveniles usually have one smaller tooth between its large lateral teeth.
Sources:sharksorg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the bahamas sawshark dangerous to humans?
The bahamas sawshark is not considered dangerous to humans under normal conditions. There are few or no recorded incidents involving this species.
Where does this species data come from?
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.