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General Information on Smalltooth Sawfish

One species, the smalltooth sawfish, is found in Florida waters. Due to lack of research, little is known about this species. To resolve this issue, studies on the smalltooth sawfish are underway.

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This 6 ft. (1.8 m TL) female smalltooth sawfish was caught, tagged, and
released on May 24, 2005 in the Caloosahatchee River.

Introduction and Protected Status

Sawfishes worldwide are poorly studied and the group is currently being revised. There are an estimated seven species of sawfish worldwide. As currently understood, the only species found regularly in Florida waters is the endangered smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). The only other species known from the western Atlantic Ocean is the largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis, also referred to as Pristis perotteti by some authors) and the most is known about this species. Sawfishes belong to the family Pristidae, derived from a Greek term meaning “saw”. They possess a characteristic long, flattened, toothed rostrum (often referred to as the “saw”) and a flattened head and trunk. If completely lost, the rostral teeth are not replaced, but if these teeth are only chipped and their bases are intact, they will continue to grow as the animal grows. The smalltooth sawfish usually has 24–32 unpaired rostral teeth per side.

The United States' population of smalltooth sawfish experienced severe range reduction and declined over the last century. The biology and ecology of P. pectinata is poorly known and the species was thought to be close to extirpation from United States waters before moderate numbers of individuals were recently documented from Florida, particularly south and southwest Florida. Smalltooth sawfish have been protected in Florida since 1992 and as of April 1, 2003, the species was listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act. If one is accidentally caught, it must be promptly released. Anglers and boaters are encouraged to contact  the sawfish researchers to report the encounter for research purposes. 

Smalltooth sawfish belong to a group of fishes called elasmobranchs that includes all rays and sharks. Smalltooth sawfish swim like sharks, but are actually more closely related to the rays, in part because their gill slits are found on the bottom of their bodies like stingrays. All elasmobranchs have a skeleton made of cartilage as opposed to a skeleton made of bone like other fishes such as red drum, snook, or tarpon. 

Distribution and Abundance 

The smalltooth sawfish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from New York (rarely) to central Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. It is a year-round resident of peninsular Florida and can be found in the summer months as far north as North Carolina, occasionally straying further north. Smalltooth sawfish were once common throughout Florida waters, especially in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Once in the late 1800s a fisherman from the Indian River Lagoon area on the east coast reported capturing 300 sawfish in his net during one season. Others reported seeing hundreds of large and small sawfish along the west coast of the peninsula.

Historically, sawfish were often caught as bycatch because their saw is very susceptible to entanglement. In addition, like other rays and sharks, smalltooth sawfish also have limited reproductive potential. These factors contributed to the reduction of the smalltooth sawfish population. Today, smalltooth sawfish occur in the United States primarily from Charlotte Harbor, Florida to the Florida Keys. Occasional sightings are reported from outside this area and almost all are from Florida. Smaller individuals (3–6 feet [1.0–1.8 m] total length) are typically found close to shore near river or creek mouths and larger individuals (up to 18 feet [5.5 m]) are found in deeper ocean and gulf waters.

Biology and Ecology

Very little detailed information is known about the biology and ecology of the smalltooth sawfish. The smalltooth sawfish has been reliably measured at about 18 feet (5.5 m) total length. A 16 foot long (4.8 m) specimen weighed 700 pounds (315 kg). Smalltooth sawfish feed on benthic invertebrates and small ray-finned fishes such as mullet. The saw is used in obtaining food by disrupting the bottom or slashing through schools of fish, stunning or lacerating them before they are consumed. Sawfish, like other bottom dwelling rays, can be opportunistic and will bite a hook or jig head baited for other species with fresh or frozen, cut or whole dead bait as well as live fish or shrimp. Occasionally, they will also take a lure or fly. The size at maturity for the smalltooth sawfish is not reliably known, but the largetooth sawfish (males and females) reaches maturity at about 10 feet (3 m). Like other rays and sharks, sawfish take years to reach maturity and are long-lived. Smalltooth sawfish have internal fertilization. The eggs hatch in the uterus and the embryos continue to grow inside the mother without a placental connection. The gestation period of the smalltooth sawfish is not known, but the largetooth sawfish has a gestation period of about five months. Young are born in late winter and spring in the waters near Florida. Up to 20 young have been reported in a brood, and they measure 1.5–2.5 feet (0.5–0.8 m) at birth. Interestingly, the saw teeth of young sawfish do not fully erupt and are covered in a sheath made of tissue until after birth so as not to injure the mother. The sheath disappears shortly after birth so they can feed and defend themselves. The reproductive cycle of the smalltooth sawfish is not known, but the largetooth sawfish has been reported to reproduce every other year.

Sawfish are most often found within a mile of land such as in estuaries, river mouths, bays, or inlets. They occur in a wide range of habitat types including seagrass flats, mud bottoms, oyster bars, sand bottoms, artificial reefs, coral reefs, mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges, and piers. They can also be found miles up rivers in low salinity conditions. Large sawfish are occasionally found offshore living in close association with artificial reefs or wrecks, hard bottoms, or mud bottoms. One of the goals of the smalltooth sawfish research being conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is to determine what habitats these animals are using, how long they are using them, and if their habitat use patterns change as they grow from juveniles to adults.

It is important to note that smalltooth sawfish have been protected in Florida since 1992 and since April 1, 2003 the species has been listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act.  If one is accidently caught, it must be promptly released.  Anglers and boaters are encouraged to call the sawfish hotline (941-255-7403) or e-mail the sawfish researchers to report the encounter for research purposes at Sawfish@MyFWC.com.

For more information see the Sawfish FAQs.