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The sawfish comes equipped with a weapon that can massacre prey. The fish's long nose is lined with sharp-edged “teeth” on both sides that can shred victims to pieces. There are several species of sawfish and some of them are huge; the largest species rivals the great white shark in size.

Big-Nose: The sawfish's saw-like nose (rostrum) can reach up to 6 feet in length. The saw has 48 to 64 "teeth," each ending in a sharp point. These teeth are actually modified scales.

Half & Half: Scientists were originally puzzled by the sawfish. The back half of its body and tail are similar to a shark's, but its head and the front of its body are more like a stingray's. The fish's floppy pectoral (side) fins show that it's more closely related to rays than sharks.

Raking in the Goodies[]

Sawfish Back Image

Large sawfish have "saws" that can measure more than 10 ft. in length.

The sawfish spends most of its time on the bottom of shallow seas, which is where it primarily hunts for food. The fish uses the teeth on its nose to rake through the sand, uncovering crabs, clams and sea snails. When prey are left vulnerable out in the open, the sawfish gobbles them up and chews through their shells with several rows of strong, blunt teeth.

Slasher: A huge saw for a nose is a good defensive weapon. If any creature disturbs a sawfish-even a human who accidentally bothers one-the beast swings its blade around and slashes its victim.

Freshen Up: Sawfish sometimes swim from the sea into rivers and travel far upstream. A population of sawfish have even adapted to freshwater life and made a permanent home in Lake Nicaragua in Central America.

Cut & Run[]

  1. The sawfish has a violent method of hunting it uses from time to time, and a large school of small fish is the perfect target.
  2. The sawfish swims through the cluster of fish and thrashes it head from side to side, stabbing and killing several fish in one pass.
  3. The sawfish lets the dead and injured fish sink to the bottom, where it picks them up and eats them with its small mouth, which is on the underside of its body.

Trading Card[]

Trivia[]

  • This has both a common trading card and a Diamond Power card.
    • 'Actually' on its diamond card has an additional 'l' on it.
  • The sawfish is mentioned as prey on the Copper Shark card.
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