Western Africa | 1997 | 10 Francs | Saw Fish

 

Saw Fish




Sawfishes (family Pristidae) are rays with a long, flattened rostrum lined with teeth resembling a saw, and can grow up to 7 m. They are the sole living family in the order Pristiformes and are distinct from similarly appearing sawsharks. All sawfish species are Endangered or Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and overfishing, with global populations reduced to less than 10% of historic levels and lost from over 80% of their former range. The smalltooth sawfish, for example, has declined by about 95%. International trade is banned, except for conservation purposes in aquaria.


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