GREEN SAWFISH

Pristis zijsron ​Bleeker, 1851

Other names​: longcomb sawfish, ​long snout sawfish, narrow snout sawfish, narrow-snouted
sawfish, and sawfish

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pristiformes
Class: Chondrichthyes/ Elasmobranchii
Family: Pristidae

Pristis zijsron​ on bottom of the seafloor.

CHARACTERISTICS embryos nourish on the yolk stored in yolk

Pristis zijsron ​is a ray with a shark like
body. They have evolved an elongated snout
or saw, which has given them the name they
have today. On this snout, there are around
twenty-three to thirty-seven teeth. ​P. zijsron
are often confused with other sawfish.
However, they can somehow be
distinguished by their greenish brown color.
Also, their skeleton is made out of cartilage.
This specie can grow up to twenty-three feet
usually fifteen feet. ​P. zijsron​ have a lifespan
of at most fifty years.
P. zijsron​ have internal fertilization. Also,
they utilize aplacental yolk sac for viviparity.
This makes them ovoviviparous. During
reproduction,
sac.
LIFESTYLE & HABITAT
P. zijsron​ live on muddy or on sandy bottom
in inshore areas. They mostly inhabit shores
in estuaries and marine areas. The location
in which they inhabit can sometimes depend
on the location. For example, ​P. zijsron​ can
be found in the freshwater of Indonesia or
inland in Thailand.
P. zijsron​ are found in intertidal areas. Also,
a young sawfish stays close to shore, which
act as nurseried. Once they are adults, they
inhabit deeper waters. They can be found in
depth over 70m.

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 GEOGRAPHIC RANGE young to stay near the coast and estuaries. A
There has been a severe depletion in certain sawfishes sexual maturity is reached at the
areas. ​Pristis zijsron​ inhabit various age of nine years.
locations, which include: Their maximum age is unknown. However,
- Australia as stated before, they live a life span of fifty
- Bahrain years.
- Eritrea
- Indonesia CONSERVATION STATUS AND
- Kenya THREATS
- Malaysia Pristis zijsron​ are endangered. This is
- Papua New Guinea caused by entanglement in fishnets, gear,
- Qatar lines, and travels. Also, their population
- Sudan decreases due to the fact of loss of habitat,
- United Arab Emirates as well as inadequate regulatory
mechanisms. ​P. zijsron​ also suffer from
ecological risks. Humans cut off their snouts
and fins for trade, causing for the specie to
die off.

Map indicating distribution of ​Pristis
zijsron​.
FEEDING BEHAVIORS
AND DIET
According to the Florida Museum webpage,
P.zijsron ​use their “rostrom in a side to side
slashing motion to dislodge invertebrates
from substrate and to stun schooling fishes”.
This organism mostly feeds on crustaceans
and molluscs.
CONSERVATION ACTIONS
There has been many things that have been
done to protect critically endangered
species. For example, P. zijsron are
protected in Australia by federal and state
legislation, and in various states. However,
there is still lack of enforcement and
regulations to this day. There has been
prohibition of trade to further protect the
specie. Protection is highly encouraged
everywhere.

PREDATORS AND PREY

Some preys of the ​P. zijsron​ includes small
schooling fishes, squids and crustaceans,
mostly crabs and shrimp. There is no known
predators of P. zijsron. However, it was once
found within the stomach of a tiger shark.
As well as bull sharks and saltwater
crocodiles.

BEHAVIOR/ LIFE HISTORY

Pristis zijsron​ are ovoviviparous. Females
give birth at inshore areas in order for the

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 CITATIONS

Green sawfish photos and facts. (n.d.).

Retrieved from
http://www.arkive.org/green-sawfish
/pristis-zijsron/

Longcomb sawfish. (2018, May 30).

Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longc
omb_sawfish#Behavior_and_life_cy
cle

Office of Protected Resources, NOAA

Fisheries, & Department of
Commerce. (n.d.). Green Sawfish -
Office of Protected Resources.
Retrieved from
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/specie
s/fish/greensawfish.htm

Pristis zijsron. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://cites.org/eng/node/24217

Pristis zijsron . (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/s
ummary/39393/0

Pristis zijsron. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/
fish/discover/species-profiles/pristis-
zijsron