Longnose sawshark

What it is

This shark has a slender body that is slightly flattened. Its most striking feature is a very long rostrum, or snout, which can account for thirty percent of its total length. The dorsal side is pale yellow or grayish-brown, while the belly is white. Faint dark blotches, spots, and bars often mark the back. Sensory barbels sit halfway down the snout, positioned closer to the tip than the nostrils. Adults reach a maximum length of 1.37 metres. It is distinct from sawfish, which are rays, because its five gill slits are on the sides of the head rather than underneath.

Where it lives

The species inhabits the eastern Indian Ocean, specifically around southern Australia and Tasmania. It lives on the continental shelf at depths ranging from 20 to 600 metres. While it may occasionally enter bays and estuaries, it prefers offshore areas with sandy or gravelly substrates. These sharks are typically found in water depths between 37 and 146 centimetres above the sea floor, though they occupy a much deeper vertical range in the ocean column.

How it lives

Longnose sawsharks feed mainly on small crustaceans. They locate food by running their barbels over the ocean floor to sense movement. The teeth on their snouts help stir up sediment and strike at hidden prey. This species matures quickly compared to other sharks and has a lifespan of approximately 15 years. Their high productivity helps maintain population levels despite fishing pressure. They are not considered dangerous to humans due to their deep-water habitat and behaviour.

Breeding and life cycle

Reproduction is ovoviviparous, meaning eggs hatch inside the mother before live birth. Females give birth every other winter during the colder months. Each litter contains between six and nineteen pups. The gestation period lasts for twelve months. Newborns measure between 27 and 37 centimetres in length. At birth, their teeth are folded against the snout to prevent injury to the mother during delivery.

Fish and people

The meat of this shark is fairly popular in Australia and is reputed to have an excellent taste. It is harvested commercially, but catch rates are kept stable by law. Large parts of its range are protected from all shark fishing, which helps buffer against population loss. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as Least Concern. This status changed from Near Threatened after data collected post-2000 showed resilient numbers.

Questions people ask about Longnose sawshark

Good reading and sources

• Longnose sawshark on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data