ANIMAL SPECIES:Eastern Sawshark, Pristiophorus sp. A
The Eastern Sawshark has a flattened head and large eyes. The Eastern Sawshark is a slender fish with two dorsal fins. It has a large mouth with rows of small teeth. The long tapering saw-shaped snout has 20 to 25 large teeth on each side and a pair of barbels. These barbels are slightly closer to the snout tip than the mouth. It has five gill slits on either side of the head. This species is grey to brown above and white below. There are two brownish stripes along the top of the snout. The sides of the saw are often darker.
Identification
The Eastern Sawshark a slender fish with two dorsal fins. It has a flattened head and large eyes. It has a large mouth with rows of small teeth. The long tapering saw-shaped snout has 20 to 25 large teeth on each side and a pair of barbels (glossary). These barbels are slightly closer to the snout tip than the mouth. It has five gill slits on either side of the head.
The species is grey to brown above and white below. There are two brownish stripes along the top of the snout. The sides of the saw are often darker.
Four species of sawsharks are recorded from Australian waters. The other three species are the Common Sawshark, P.cirratus, the Southern Sawshark, P.nudipinnis and the undescribed Tropical Sawshark, Pristiophorus sp. B.
Size range
The Eastern Sawshark grows to at least 1.1 m in length.Distribution
It is endemic to Australia, occuring from northern New South Wales to eastern Victoria.
Habitat
The species occurs in continental shelf and slope waters in depths from 100 m to 630 m.
Classification
- Species:
- sp. A
- Genus:
- Pristiophorus
- Family:
- Pristiophoridae
- Class:
- Chondrichthyes
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994 Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
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