Common sawfish

<em>Pristis pristis</em>, the largetooth sawfish or common sawfish, is a large elasmobranch fish in the family Pristidae, once widespread across tropical and subtropical coastal and freshwater habitats in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The species is now documented primarily in remnant populations, including in Colombia and Venezuela. Characterized by its distinctive elongated rostrum lined with paired rostral teeth resembling a saw, the largetooth sawfish typically inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, mangroves, and freshwater rivers and lakes, using its rostrum to detect and stun prey. It is a generalist predator, feeding primarily on fish and crustaceans. The species can reach lengths of up to 7 meters, making it one of the largest of all elasmobranch fishes. <em>Pristis pristis</em> is assessed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, having experienced catastrophic population declines of over 90% across most of its historical range. Primary threats include overfishing and bycatch, habitat loss through coastal development and river modification, and the international trade in rostral teeth. The species has been extirpated from numerous countries and regions where it was once common. International conservation efforts including fishing bans and habitat protection are underway to prevent further decline and facilitate recovery.