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Saw Sharks. Order Pristiophoriformes |
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Page 2 of 3 Characteristics of SawsharksOrder Pristiophoriformes # of Species
| 9
| Body shape
| Slightly flattened, long and slender. Grows to 5 feet. | Mouth position
| Long, blade-like, toothy snout; small, transverse mouth | Anal fin
| No | Dorsal Fin
| 2 | Fin spines
| No | # of Gill slits
| 5 (Sixgill Sawshark has 6 gills)
| Reproduction
| Ovoviviparous. Between 7 and 17 pups per litter. | Unique qualities
| Long snout; long nasal barbels | Habitat
| Marine habitats, although temperate species inhabit estuaries and shallow bays; Range from temperate to tropical zones: western Atlantic (Florida, Bahamas, and Cuba), the southwestern Indian Ocean (off South Africa), and the western Pacific (from southern Australia and Japan) | Food
| small fish, crustaceans, squid |
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Shark Knowledge 