sawfish large fish of the family Pristidae, especially Pristis pectinata, which has a maximum length of 7.5 m (25') or even more. The ‘saw’ with which it is equipped for killing its prey is also capable of inflicting great damage on, for example, fishing nets. Indeed, since these fish are viviparous, the saws of baby specimens would lacerate the insides of their mothers if they were not provided with little sheaths which they wear until after birth.
The principal sawfish belong to the Indo-Pacific. Despite the obvious problems of catching them, they are sought after and highly regarded as food in certain countries of the region, notably Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and China.
