The scientific genus name
Pristis is derived from the Greek word for saw.
Living species Recent authorities recognize four species: •
Pristis clavata Garman, 1906 — dwarf sawfish, Queensland sawfish •
Pristis pectinata Latham, 1794 — smalltooth sawfish •
Pristis pristis (
Linnaeus,
1758) — largetooth sawfish, common sawfish, freshwater sawfish, Leichhardt's sawfish •
Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851 — longcomb sawfish, green sawfish These are divided into two
species groups. Most are considered a part of the smalltooth group, except
P. pristis which is the sole member of the largetooth group. Two additional species,
P. microdon and
P. perotteti, have historically been recognized, but in 2013 it was shown that they are
conspecific with
P. pristis as
morphological and
genetic differences are lacking,
Anoxypristis cuspidata was formerly included in
Pristis, but it has a number of distinctive features (for example, no teeth on the basal quarter of the saw) and recent authorities place it in its own genus. •
Pristis acutidens Agassiz 1843 •
Pristis amblodon Cope 1869 •
Pristis aquitanicus Delfortrie 1871 •
Pristis atlanticus Zbyszewski 1947 •
Pristis bisulcatus Agassiz 1843 •
Pristis brachyodon Cope 1869 •
Pristis brayi Casier 1949 •
Pristis caheni Dartevelle and Casier 1959 •
Pristis contortus Dixon 1850 •
Pristis curvidens Leidy 1855 •
Pristis dubius Münster 1846 •
Pristis ensidens Leidy 1855 •
Pristis fajumensis Stromer 1905 •
Pristis hastingsiae Agassiz 1843 •
Pristis lanceolatus Jonet 1968 •
Pristis lathami Galeotti 1837 •
Pristis olbrechtsi Dartevelle and Casier 1959 •
Pristis pectinatus Latham 1794 •
Pristis pickeringi Case 1981 •
Pristis prosulcatus Stromer 1905 (Morocco.) However, among this list are some
species considered invalid by recent authorities and others now generally recognized as belonging in
Anoxypristis. Fossil
Pristis range from the
Late Paleocene to the
Quaternary period. Fossils have been found all over the world. ==References==