INTRODUCTION
Sawfishes belong to a group of fishes called elasmobranchs that includes sharks, rays, and skates. 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. Sawfishes are actually a type of ray. While modern sawfish all fit into one family known as Pristidae, derived from a Greek term meaning "a sawyer or saw"; members of the ancient sawfish family Sclerorhynchidae, derived from Greek terms in reference to the rigid snout, lived in primitive seas and have long since gone extinct. Members of both families possess the characteristic long, flattened, toothed rostrum, a flattened head and trunk, and a shark-like appearance and manner of swimming.
Sawfishes belong to a group of fishes called elasmobranchs that includes sharks, rays, and skates. 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. Sawfishes are actually a type of ray. While modern sawfish all fit into one family known as Pristidae, derived from a Greek term meaning "a sawyer or saw"; members of the ancient sawfish family Sclerorhynchidae, derived from Greek terms in reference to the rigid snout, lived in primitive seas and have long since gone extinct. Members of both families possess the characteristic long, flattened, toothed rostrum, a flattened head and trunk, and a shark-like appearance and manner of swimming.
In pristids, the teeth along the rostrum are not replaced if they are lost. In contrast, some evidence suggests that at least one species of sclerorhynchid sawfish may have rotated out their rostral teeth. There has been little interest in sawfishes until recently, however, today the scientific knowledge of these fascinating animals is growing in leaps and bounds even as sawfish stocks continue to diminish in many areas of the world.
Below is a brief list of fossil and living sawfish taxa. This list should be considered preliminary as new genera and species of sclerorhynchids are still being described.
RHINOPRISTIFORMES as proposed by Naylor, Caira, Jensen, Rosana, Straube, and Lakner, 2012
(Pristidae was formerly in PRISTIFORMES Buen, 1929)
PRISTIDAE Bonaparte, 1838
-coastal, some freshwater
-0.1 to at least 122 m depth
-oral teeth of living species poorly known
-oral teeth rarely collected from the fossil record
-all species with characteristic vertebral centra with thick "collars", have an aseptate morphology, and lack foramina
Anoxypristis White & Moy-Thomas, 1941
-may be given its own family in near future, separate from Pristidae
Extant species:
Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794); western Pacific and Indian oceans
-may be split into two or more species in near future based on regional morphological and genetic differences
Fossil species:
Anoxypristis cf. cuspidata (Latham, 1794); Tuscany, Pliocene (3.61-3.19 mya) based on two rostral teeth
Anoxypristis fajumensis (Stromer, 1905)
-of uncertain validity
Anoxypristis mucrodens (White, 1926)
-tiny oral teeth (ca. 1 mm wide), wider than long and fairly different from Pristis oral teeth
-mid-Miocene: Europe, North America, North and West Africa
Anoxypristis osonensis (Farrés, 2003)
-very similar in morphology to Anoxypristis mucrodens
-described from the Late Middle Eocene (Bartonian), Catalonia region of northeastern Spain
-of uncertain validity
Glaucopristis Reinecke, Mollen, Gijsen, D'Haeze, and Hoedemakers, 2024
-based on thousands of isolated oral teeth from the Clay, Hyon, and Tielt formations of the Ypresian, early Eocene of the southwestern North Sea basin
-one species, Glaucopristis bruxelliensis (Jaekel, 1894) reassigned from Rhinobatus bruxelliensis Jaekel, 1894
-oral teeth to 2.7 mm wide and 1.8 mm high having morphological characteristics of both Glaucostegus and Pristis
-Rostral teeth were also found associated with the oral teeth and may belong to this new genus and reassigned species
Mesopristis Farrés, 2003
-from a 57-cm-long slender rostrum with 13 rostral teeth and 8 vertebral centra
-broad, flat rostral teeth and slender rostrum similar to Anoxypristis fajumensis (if valid) and A. mucrodens
-genus is monotypic but considered a junior synonym of Anoxypristis by Cappetta (2012)
Type specimen: Mesopristis osonensis Farrés, 2003; Late Middle Eocene (Bartonian), Catalonia region of northeastern Spain
-the species may be valid as Anoxypristis osonensis (Farrés, 2003)
Peyeria Weiler, 1935
-Sternes and Shimada (2018) proposed that rostral spines attributed to Peyeria may instead be dermal plates (enlarged dermal denticles) of Ischyrhiza mira and this trait may also be shared by other sclerorhynchids
-Cappetta (2012) considered Peyeria-like rostral spines to be dermal plates of Onchopristis, of which this material is often associated
-possibly dermal plates of a bowmouth guitarfish family Rhinidae
-some have proposed rostral spines of Peyeria may instead be rostral teeth of Propristis (although too old)
-rostral teeth ca. 2.5 cm, triangular, no enamel, funnel shaped base
-genus currently monotypic
-Upper Cretaceous: northeast Africa (if this is a pristid, then it is the oldest known; 145.5-65.5 Ma)
Type specimen: Peyeria libyca Weiler, 1935; Baharije, Egypt
Pristis Linck, 1790
-oral teeth to 3 mm wide, may be longer than wide
Lower Eocene to Present: Borneo, Egypt, Europe, Java, Madagascar, North America, North and West Africa, Panama
-Revision of the many fossil species is necessary
Extant species:
Pristis clavata Garman, 1906; western Pacific Ocean
Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794; eastern and western Atlantic Ocean
Pristis pristis Linneaus, 1758; eastern and western Pacific, Indian, and eastern and western Atlantic oceans
-reliably reported to 705 cm TL (see Devadoss et al. 1989)
Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851; western Pacific and Indian oceans
-possibly reaches 732 cm TL (Munro 1955)
Fossil species (revision of the many fossil species is necessary):
Pristis amblodon Cope, 1869; New Jersey, mid-Eocene
Pristis aquitanicus Delfortrie, 1872; lower Miocene, southern France
-mid-to-upper Eocene, Egypt
-Miocene, Orissa, India
Pristis atlanticus Zbyszewsky, 1947: mid-Miocene, quarries near Lisbon, Portugal
-based on a ca. 130-cm incomplete rostrum and several isolated rostral teeth
-type specimens housed at the Geological Museum of Portugal
Pristis brayi, P. brevis, P. praecursor, and P. propinquidens Casier, 1949; mid-Eocene, Belgium
-all or some of the Casier, 1949 species may be synonyms of P. lathami
Pristis caheni Dartevelle & Casier, 1959; Miocene, Cabinda, West Africa
Pristis lathami Galeotti, 1837; mid-Eocene, Belgium
-described from a 42-cm section of rostrum devoid of rostral teeth (Casier 1949)
-generally thought to be restricted to Eocene-age deposits (Cicimurri 2007)
-lower Eocene, Morocco
-mid-Eocene, New Jersey, Egypt, Madagascar, Togo
-mid-to-upper Eocene, Egypt
Pristis olbrechtsi Darlevelle & Casier, 1959; mid-Eocene, West Africa
Pristis prosulcatus Stromer, 1905; mid-Eocene, Egypt
Propristis Dames, 1883
-from isolated rostral teeth and a 2.15 m rostrum (Fraas, 1907)
-rostral teeth have no enamel, about as wide as long
-no oral teeth known
-mid-Eocene to Miocene: North and West Africa, North America (AL, GA, LA, MI)
Type specimen: Propristis schweinfurthi Dames, 1883; upper Eocene, Fayoum, Egypt
Fossil species:
Propristis schweinfurthi Dames, 1883; upper Eocene, Fayoum, Egypt
Propristis mayumbensis Dartevelle & Casier, 1943; Eocene, Democratic Republic of the Congo
RAJIFORMES or
SCLERORHYNCHIFORMES Kriwet, 2004
Suborder SCLERORHYNCHOIDEI Cappetta, 1980
-long flattened rostrum
-rostral spines w/ enameloid cap and a peduncle w/ closed basal face
-rostral spines not set in alveoli (thus, more spine-like than tooth-like)
-no rostral barbels
-have external rostral nerves
-two dorsals, well developed and close together; in posterior position
-reduced caudal fin; long whip-like tail
PTYCHOTRYGONIDAE Kriwet et al., 2009
Asflapristis Villalobos-Segura et al., 2019
-robust rostrum apparently devoid of rostral denticles
-robust jaws with ridged teeth lacking cusps; teeth are reminiscent of dasyatid teeth
Fossil species:
Asflapristis cristadentis Villalobos-Segura et al. 2019; type species; late Cretaceous of Morocco
-robust rostrum apparently devoid of rostral denticles
-skin denticles are present but do not appear to be extensive
-robust jaws with ridged teeth having large pump cavities but lacking cusps; teeth are reminiscent of dasyatid teeth
-described based on well-preserved partial skeletal remains of six specimens
-believed to reach over 2 m TL
Ptychotrygon Jaekel, 1894
-may lack a spine-studded rostrum
-small oral teeth with crowns broader than long
-most species are represented by only fragmentary material
-five sets of skeletal remains of Ptychotrygon rostrispatula from the Turonian (late Cretaceous) of Morocco represent the first known nearly-complete skeletal remains of this genus
-reaches over 1 m TL (P. rostrispatula)
Fossil species:
Ptychotrygon blainensis Case, 1978
Ptychotrygon chattahoochieensis Case et al., 2001
Ptychotrygon eutawensis Case et al., 2001
Ptychotrygon geyeri Kriwet, 1999
Ptychotrygon pustulata Kriwet et al., 2009
Ptychotrygon rostrispatula Villalobos-Segura et al., 2019
-leaf-shaped rostrum 31% of total length
-no enlarged rostral denticles known
-oral teeth resemble those of Libanopristis hiram and Texatrygon spp.
Ptychotrygon rugosum (Case et al., 2001)
Ptychotrygon striata Kriwet et al., 2009
Ptychotrygon triangularis (Reuss, 1845)
Ptychotrygon vermiculata Cappetta, 1975
Texatrygon Cappetta & Case, 1999
Fossil species:
Texatrygon avonicola (Estes, 1964)
Texatrygon benningensis (case et al., 2001)
Texatrygon hooveri (McNulty & Slaughter, 1972)
Texatrygon stouti Bourdon et al., 2011
SCLERORHYNCHIDAE Cappetta, 1974
(replaces Ganopristinae Arambourg, 1940)
-genera known from complete skeletons to isolated rostral spines and oral teeth
Ankistrorhynchus Casier, 1964
-rostral spine cap contains core of osteodentine
Fossil species:
Ankistrorhynchus lonzeensis Casier, 1964; type species, late Cretaceous (Santonian), Lonzee, Belgium
Australopristis Martill and Ibrahim, 2012
-rostral spine similar to Onchopristis but with multiple posterior barbs, root lacks prominent ribbing
-represents a reappraisal of Onchopristis dunklei praecursor Thurmond, 1971
Fossil species:
Australopristis wiffeni Martill and Ibrahim, 2012; type species, late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian), Mangahouanga Stream, North Island, New Zealand
-described from rostral spines
Atlanticopristis Pereira and Medeiros, 2008
Fossil species:
Atlanticopristis equatorialis Pereira and Medeiros, 2008; type species, late Cretaceous (early Cenomanian), Alcantara Fm., Itapecura Grp., northwestern Brazil
- 14 rostral spines in original description, multi-barbed on both posterior and anterior sides, approx. 15–19 mm long, extensive enameloid ribbing on dorsal and ventral surfaces
-thought to be closely related to Onchopristis
Baharipristis Werner, 1989
Fossil species:
Baharipristis bastetiae Werner, 1989; type species, Cretaceous, Gebel Ghorabi, Egypt
Biropristis Suarez and Cappetta, 2004
Fossil species:
Biropristis landbecki Suarez and Cappetta, 2004; type species, Cretaceous, Estratos de Quebrada Municipalidad Fm., Chile
Borodinopristis Case, 1987
- Rostral spines that can be differentiated from those of all other sclerorhynchids by the presence of one or more 'collared' barbs
- Rostral spines 3 mm in height or less (none greater than 3 mm have been recorded so far)
- Oral teeth differ from those of other sclerorhynchids by a high central cusp on the crown and the presence of lateral cusplets
- Oral teeth 1 mm wide or less (none greater than 1 mm have been recorded so far)
Fossil species:
Borodinopristis ackermani Case et al., 2001; late Cretaceous (Coniacian and Santionian), Eutaw Fm., Luxapalila Creek, Lowndes Co., Mississipi
Borodinopristis schwimmeri Case, 1987; type species, late Cretaceous (Campanian), upper Blufftown Formation, Hannahatchee Creek, Stewart County, Georgia; also elsewhere in Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains
- Three rostral spines (one holotype, two paratypes) and two oral teeth (vouchered but not considered types) in original description; holotype rostral spine only 3 mm in length; oral teeth are up to 1 mm in width
Borodinopristis shannoni Case et al., 2012; late Cretaceous (Campanian), Atlantic coastal plain
Ctenopristis Arambourg, 1940
Fossil species:
Ctenopristis jordanicus Mustafa et al. 2002; late Cretaceous (late Santonian), Umm Ghudran Fm., Central Jordan
Ctenopristis nougareti Arambourg, 1940; late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), Ouled Abdoun basin near Khouribga, Morocco
Dalpiazia Checchia-Rispoli, 1933
Fossil species:
Dalpiazia stromeri Checchia-Rispoli, 1933; type species, late Cretaceous, Tripolitania, Libya
Ganopristis Arambourg, 1935 (placed in Sclerorhynchus by Arambourg & Bertin, 1958)
-may have inhabited cooler and deeper waters than other sclerorhynchiods
Fossil species:
Ganopristis leptodon Arambourg, 1935; type species, late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), Ouled Abdoun basin near Khouribga, Morocco
Ischyrhiza Leidy, 1856
-members of this genus are known from late Cretaceous deposits in many parts of the world including Africa, western Eurasia, North America, South America
Fossil species:
ischyrhiza avonicola Estes, 1964; late Cretaceous of North America, valid species according to Cappetta (2012)
Ischyrhiza georgiensis Case, Schwimmer, Borodin, and Leggett, 2011; late Cretaceous (Santonian) of North America, valid species according to Cappetta (2012)
Ischyrhiza mira Leidy, 1856; type species, late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), New Jersey, USA
-the most commonly found species in the genus
-in North America, it is known from Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Texas
-in Canada, it is known from Alberta
-vertebral centra morphology very similar to those of pristids (thick "collars", no holes along periphery)
-important associated skeletal material have been reported from the Mooreville Chalk of Alabama (partial rostrum; also rostral spines, dermal denticles, and vertebrae; also rostal spines and rostral cartilage fragments), Bluffport Marl member of the Demopolis Chalk Formation of Alabama (rostral spines, vertebrae, and rostral cartilage fragments), upper portion of the Ripley Formation of Alabama (set of rostral spines), and the upper portion of the Coon Creek Formation of Tennessee (rostral spines, vertebrae, and rostral cartilage fragments)
Ischyrhiza monasterica Case and Cappetta, 1997; late Cretaceous (Maastrichthian) of North America, valid species according to Cappetta (2012)
Ischyrhiza nigeriensis Tabaste 1963; late Cretaceous, Niger, Africa; apparently not a valid species according to Cappetta (2012)
Kiestus Cappetta & Case, 1999
Fossil species:
Kiestus texana (Cappetta & Case, 1975); type species, late Cretaceous (Turonian-Coniacian boundary), Kiest, Texas, USA
Libanopristis Cappetta, 1980
Fossil species:
Libanopristis hiram Hay 1903; type species, late Cretaceous (Cenomanian), Hadjula, Lebanon
Marckgrafia Weiler, 1935
Fossil species:
Marckgrafia libyca Weiler, 1935; type species, late Cretaceous (early Cenomanian), Baharia (Bahariya), Egypt
Micropristis Cappetta, 1980
Fossil species:
Micropristis solomonis (Hay, 1903); late Cretaceous (Cenomanian), Hadjula, Lebanon
Onchopristis Stromer, 1917
Fossil species:
Onchopristis numidus (Haug, 1905); type species, early Cretaceous (late Albian), Djoua, Algeria
-Usually one barb, rarely more than one barb on posterior margin of rostral spines
-May have been the largest sclerorhynchid species (up to 8 m total length)
Onchopristis dunklei McNulty & Slaughter, 1962; late Cretaceous (mid-Cenomanian), Woodbine Fm., Carter Field in Fort Worth, Terrant Co., Texas
-always more than one barb on posterior margin of rostral spines
Onchosaurus Gervais, 1852
-Late Cretaceous (Turonian to Campanian)
-rostral spine cap contains core of osteodentine
Fossil species:
Onchosaurus radicalis Gervais, 1852; type species, late Cretaceous (Senonian), Meudon southwest of Paris, France
Onchosaurus pharao (Dames, 1887); late Cretaceous (Senonian), Giza (Gizeh), Egypt
-Known from late Turonian to middle Campanian of Africa, Middle East, southern North America, South America, and Japan
-Most complete skeleton (associated vertebral centra, rostral spines, fragments of rostrum and cranium) est. TL of 400-460 cm found in late Cretaceous Scaglia Rossa Fm., Luigi Benedetti's quarry, Lessini Mtns, northeastern Italy
-Morphology of oral teeth remain unrecorded
-Estimated maximum TL of 520-575 cm
-May have been a highly migratory, pelagic species similar to living mobulids
Plicatopristis Cappetta, 1991
Fossil species:
Plicatopristis strougoi, Cappetta, 1991; type species
Pucapristis Schaeffer, 1963
-rostral spine cap contains core of osteodentine
Fossil species:
Pucapristis branisi Schaeffer, 1963; type species, late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), Toro Toro (Torotoro), Bolivia
Renpetia Werner, 1989
Fossil species:
Renpetia libiicarinata, Werner, 1989; type species
Schizorhiza Weiler, 1930
-rostral spine cap contains core of osteodentine
Fossil species:
Schizorhiza stromeri Weiler, 1930; type species, late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), Egypt
Sclerorhynchus Woodward, 1889
Fossil species:
Sclerorhynchus atavus Woodward, 1889; type species, late Cretaceous (late Santonian), Sahel Alma, Lebanon
-Holotype is a partial but well-preserved head (figured in Underwood et al. 2015)
Sclerorhynchus karakensis Mustafa et al. 2002; late Cretaceous (late Santonian), Umm Ghudran Fm., Central Jordan
