Sawshark

Sawsharks Temporal range: Santonian-recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Shortnose sawshark, Pristiophorus nudipinnis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Clade:	Neoselachii
Subdivision:	Selachimorpha
Superorder:	Squalomorphii
Order:	Pristiophoriformes L. S. Berg, 1958
Family:	Pristiophoridae Bleeker, 1859
Type species
Pristiophorus cirratus Latham, 1794
Genera[1]
†Ikamauius Keyes, 1979 Pliotrema Regan, 1906 Pristiophorus J. P. Müller & Henle, 1837 †Propristiophorus Woodward, 1932

A sawshark or saw shark is a member of a shark order (Pristiophoriformes /prɪstiˈɒfɒrɪfɔːrmiːz/) bearing a unique long, saw-like rostrum (snout or bill) edged with sharp teeth, which they use to slash and disable their prey. There are eight species within the Pristiophoriformes, including the longnose or common sawshark (Pristiophorus cirratus), shortnose sawshark (Pristiophorus nudipinnis), Japanese sawshark (Pristiophorus japonicas), Bahamas sawshark (Pristiophorus schroederi), sixgill sawshark (Pliotrema warreni), African dwarf sawshark (Pristiophorus nancyae), Lana's sawshark (Pristiophorus lanae) and the tropical sawshark (Pristiophorus delicatus).^[2]

Sawsharks are found in many areas around the world, most commonly in waters from the Indian Ocean to the southern Pacific Ocean. They are normally found at depths around 40–100 m, but can be found much lower in tropical regions. The Bahamas sawshark was discovered in deeper waters (640 m to 915 m) of the northwestern Caribbean.