Sawfishes are fascinating and enigmatic animals that, at first glance, resemble sharks due to their elongated bodies, triangular dorsal fins, and shark-like tails. However, these unique fishes are members of the superorder Batoidea, the group of elasmobranchs that includes stingrays and guitarfish.
Why are Sawfishes Classified as Rays?
Despite their resemblance to sharks, sawfishes possess several key characteristics that classify them as rays:
- Flat, elongated body: Like other rays, sawfishes have flattened bodies, indicating they spend most of their life on the bottom of shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers.
- Gills on the underside: Unlike sharks, which have gills on the sides of their heads, sawfishes have gills located on the underside of their bodies.
- Pectoral fins fused to the head: Like other rays, sawfishes have large pectoral fins that are fused to their head, extending along their body.
- Benthic foraging: Sawfishes feed primarily on the ocean floor, using their distinctive toothed “saw” to detect prey and slash through schools of fish to feed.
An Evolutionary Adaptation: Sawfish and Sharks
Sawfishes’ most distinct feature is its “saw,” a toothed long, flattened extension of their snout, known as a rostrum. This unique adaptation serves multiple purposes: it helps the animals defend against predators and functions as an efficient hunting tool. The rostrum is lined with electroreceptive organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which allow the sawfishes to detect the electric fields produced by prey – like fish and crustaceans – even when hidden under sediment. Using quick, slashing movements, a sawfish can stun or impale its prey before consuming it. This remarkable adaptation makes sawfishes highly specialized predators in their aquatic environments.
Sawfish Species
Sawfishes are arguably the most threatened family of marine fishes in the world. There are five recognized species of sawfish:
- Pristis pristis
- Pristis zijsron
- Pristis pectinata
- Pristis clavata
- Anoxypristis cuspidata
All five sawfish species have experienced historic declines greater than 90%. Consequently, all sawfish species are listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. Their declines are largely due to overfishing, bycatch in trawl and gillnet fisheries, and illegal hunting for their highly-valued saws. In addition, habitat destruction, particularly the loss of coastal mangroves, has severely impacted their breeding grounds.
The Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis): A Giant at Risk

Of the five species, the largetooth sawfish (Pristis pristis) is the largest, growing up to 7 meters in length. Historically, this species was found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have led to its disappearance from much of its original range.
In Panama, similar to most of tropical America, the largetooth sawfish was believed to be extinct. Yet, since 2017, our research teams have demonstrated that Darién remains a crucial refuge for this species. Through interviews with artisanal fishers and the use of innovative techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA), the presence of largetooth sawfish in the region was confirmed.
Notably, our team was the first research team to capture a largetooth sawfish in Central America in over 20 years, marking a significant milestone in sawfish conservation. We have been closely monitoring artisanal fishing landings in the area since 2021, and approximately seven juvenile largetooth sawfish have been observed, thanks to the collaborative work with the local fishing network.
Taking this into account, we established a network of local fishers committed to protecting the largetooth sawfish. This network, consisting of around 87 fishers from five communities, has been trained in sustainable fishing practices and plays an active role in reporting and safely releasing sawfish when encountered. This initiative could represent the last opportunity for the recovery of the largetooth sawfish population in this region.
Empowering Local Communities for Conservation

Community engagement and environmental education are integral to MarAlliance’s marine conservation efforts. We have conducted educational workshops and outreach programs to raise awareness among artisanal fishers and their families about the importance of protecting this sawfish species and its habitats. These workshops not only focus on teaching fishers how to safely release accidentally caught sawfish but also promote sustainable practices that benefit both the local environment and the economy.
A key success of the project has been the empowerment of women’s entrepreneurial groups within fishing communities. These groups focus on generating alternative sources of income, improving living conditions, and reducing reliance on fishing. By producing and selling handicrafts inspired by local wildlife in national and international markets, these women have gained previously unattainable income. This initiative illustrates how sustainable economic activities can enhance autonomy and foster local economic growth.

This collaborative effort strengthens the bond between researchers and local communities and ensures that conservation initiatives are holistic and long-lasting, involving all stakeholders in the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems.