Head to head
Sawshark vs Sawfish
Despite their near-identical saw-like snouts, these two animals are only distantly related, a case of convergent evolution rather than close kinship.
| Sawshark | Sawfish | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pristiophoridae | Pristidae |
| Taxonomic group | A true shark | A ray |
| Gill slit position | Sides of the body | Underside of the body |
| Barbels on the saw | Present, used to detect prey | Absent |
| Saw's main use | Slashing prey and detecting buried prey | Slashing through schools of fish and sensing electric fields |
| Typical size | Smaller overall | Much larger, saw up to a quarter of body length |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Habitat | Ocean | Coastal, ocean, wetlands |
Sawshark vs Sawfish: common questions
Is the sawshark a true shark, unlike the sawfish?
Yes, the sawshark is a true shark with gill slits on the sides of its body, while the sawfish is a ray with gill slits on its underside, making the two only distantly related despite their similar saw-like snouts.
Which one has barbels on its saw?
The sawshark is the one with barbels, a pair of sensitive structures partway along its snout used to detect prey, a feature entirely absent from the sawfish's much larger saw.
Which one is more endangered?
The sawfish is far more endangered, with all five species classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered and global declines of 90 percent or more, while the sawshark remains classified as Least Concern.