One of the most remarkable animals living in the rivers and coastal waters of Papua New Guinea. Unlike most rays tied to the sea, this species can move freely between saltwater and freshwater, sometimes traveling deep inland. Historical accounts even mention sawfish being found more than a thousand kilometers upriver, something no other ray can match. This flexibility makes it stand out from other sawfish species, which usually stay closer to estuaries or shallow coasts. In Papua New Guinea, the Largetooth Sawfish is often reported in places like Lake Murray, the Fly River system, Daru, the Gulf of Papua (Southern part of PNG), and the Sepik River (Northern part of PNG), suggesting the country may be one of its last strongholds.
This sawfish earns its name from its broad, powerful saw-like snout, which is lined with large teeth that are spaced wider apart than in most of its relatives. The saw is not just for show—it is a hunting tool. With quick sideways slashes, the Largetooth Sawfish can stun and injure fish before snapping them up. It also uses the saw to stir up muddy river bottoms to uncover crabs and small prey. Another difference lies in its size: the Largetooth Sawfish can grow more than six meters long, making it one of the largest rays on Earth. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is not aggressive toward people and usually keeps to itself in remote waters.
What sets the Largetooth Sawfish apart from its relatives is both its adaptability and its broad, robust rostrum. The study notes that its rostrum teeth are larger and more widely spaced than those of the Green or Narrow Sawfish, which gives it an advantage when slashing through schools of fish. Unlike the Smalltooth Sawfish, which is primarily found in coastal waters, the Largetooth can penetrate far inland. The paper highlights historical accounts of individuals reaching over 1,300 kilometers upriver, a feat unmatched by other sawfish species.
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean
Indian ocean
Pacific ocean
Angola
Australia
Bangladesh
Belize
Benin
Brazil
Brunei
Cambodia
Cameroon
Colombia
Congo-Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
East Timor
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
France
French Guiana
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Italy
Kenya
Laos
Liberia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Mauritania
Mexico
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Venezuela
Vietnam
YemenRecent Updates
- This species profile was created with the support of Dr. Michael I. Grant, Dr. William T. White and Dr. Ruth Leeney.
Anything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
