The Narrow Sawfish lives in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-West Pacific—from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, along the coasts of India and Southeast Asia, to northern Australia and southern Japan. It favours sandy or muddy seabeds in coastal areas, estuaries, and sometimes the lower reaches of rivers.

Average Size:
Adult Narrow Sawfish can reach lengths of around 3 to 3.5 metres. Newborns measure about 45 to 70 centimetres long, with their saws safely sheathed to protect the mother during birth.

Family:
Pristidae (Sawfishes)

Species:
Anoxypristis cuspidata

Rostrum Structure and Function:
The sawfish’s rostrum is a specialised tool packed with sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect the faint electrical signals given off by nearby prey. The saw can also be used to stir up sand or strike through shoals of fish, stunning or injuring prey before it is eaten.
In this species, the saw is narrow with about 16 to 29 pairs of teeth along its edges, and a smooth, tooth-free section closest to the head.

Movement and Habitat Use:
Narrow Sawfish spend most of their time close to the seabed, often partially buried in sediment. Their flattened shape and broad pectoral fins help them glide gracefully through shallow waters. They are occasionally seen entering estuaries and the mouths of large rivers, especially in tropical regions.

Reproduction:
Sawfish are viviparous, meaning females give birth to live young. The pups develop inside the mother, nourished by a yolk sac until birth. When born, their saws are covered by a soft membrane to prevent injury to the mother.

Conservation Status:
The Narrow Sawfish is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its numbers have declined sharply due to accidental capture in fishing nets and the trade in sawfish rostra (saws) as curiosities or ornaments.
Today, sawfish are legally protected in many parts of their range, but their slow reproduction and coastal lifestyle make recovery difficult. Conservation programmes are working to protect key habitats and raise awareness of the threats facing these extraordinary animals.