Sawshark: The Ocean's Toothy Swordsman
The sawshark (Pristiophoriformes) is a fascinating shark species known for its unique saw-like snout, lined with sharp, alternating teeth. These sharks, which can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, use their "saw" to slash and stun prey like small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Equipped with barbels halfway along their snout and sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, sawsharks detect hidden prey in the ocean floor.
Unlike their larger relatives, the sawfish, sawsharks are smaller, have barbels, and live in deeper waters, often reaching depths of 640–1,000 meters. They are ovoviviparous, giving birth to 3–22 pups every two years, with pups' teeth angled backward to protect the mother during gestation.
Fun fact: Sawsharks blend seamlessly with the sandy ocean floor thanks to their yellow-brown coloration, making them stealthy hunters in the deep!
