Long tapering toothed snout with two barbels, five lateral gill slits, two dorsal fins and no anal fin; brownish upper body often blotched. Soft-bottom continental-shelf and upper-slope habitats, approximately 40–630 m.
See Longnose Sawshark clearly
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Wildlife education
This record supports wildlife education. Aquarium-care questions are not assigned to this profile.
Wildlife education profile; reviewed natural-history sources do not establish a captive operating protocol.
Wildlife reference; no home-aquarium stocking recommendation or validated captive operating protocol is supplied. Public-aquarium photographs document living animals, not suitability for private keeping.
Outstanding care evidence
- Institutional lifetime husbandry and veterinary protocol
Identification
Long tapering toothed snout with two barbels, five lateral gill slits, two dorsal fins and no anal fin; brownish upper body often blotched.
Names and Classification
Also called common sawshark. A shark with lateral gills and rostral barbels; not a sawfish of the ray family Pristidae. Also published under Pristis cirratus.
Adult Size
Recorded maximum about 1.49 m total length. Males mature near 97 cm and females near 113 cm; maturity lengths are not typical adult maxima.
Distribution and Habitat
Endemic to southern Australia, including Tasmania, from western Australia to New South Wales. Soft-bottom continental-shelf and upper-slope habitats, approximately 40–630 m.
Feeding and Ecological Role
Small fishes and crustaceans. A bottom-associated predator; the saw may assist searching sediment for prey. Harvested as a managed fishery byproduct.
Reproduction and Life History
Live-bearing, with embryos nourished by yolk; females produce several to around twenty pups after roughly twelve months.
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN Red List global species assessment; Global category confirmed in 2023 Australian report card; checked 2026-10-17). The report separately labels Australian fishery sustainability; a fishery stock classification and an IUCN threat category answer different questions.
Responsible Observation
Observe without chasing, feeding, touching or obstructing the animal. Keep fins and equipment off resting rays and sharks; give sawfishes and wedgefishes room to move. Follow the site’s local wildlife rules and use responsible dive operators.
About the Photographs
One verified photograph of a living common sawshark was found in a scientific underwater-video survey. The photographer/report credit, CC BY licence and original source are recorded with the image. The target of at least three photographs remains unmet.
Aquarium Suitability
Wildlife education only. This marine elasmobranch is outside home-aquarium stocking and care guidance. Wild range and diet are not a captive operating protocol; this profile does not infer tank dimensions, water settings, acquisition advice or an institutional welfare plan.
Evidence Gaps
Evidence gaps include: Population stock structure remains poorly described; Pooled sawshark fishery data do not establish a species-specific abundance estimate.
A living record
Natural history, taxonomy and global conservation categories checked against the linked sources. Habitat measurements are not captive care settings. Each photograph has separate identity, living-status and rights evidence. Public content last reviewed October 17, 2026.
- Museums Victoria: Fishes of Australia ↗Reference source
- Australian Shark and Ray Report Card ↗Reference source
- Australian Fisheries Management Authority ↗Reference source
- Shark-References — species and taxonomic synonyms ↗Reference source
- NESP South-west Corner Marine Park survey report — Figure 29i ↗Reference source