Pristis
Pristis is a genus of sawfish of the family Pristidae. These large fish are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions in coastal marine waters, estuaries, and freshwater lakes and rivers. Sawfish have declined drastically and all species are considered critically endangered today.
Taxonomy
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 sawfishPristis pectinata [John John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham (ornithologist)|Latham], 1794 — smalltooth sawfishPristis pristis — largetooth sawfish, common sawfish, freshwater sawfish, Leichhardt's sawfishPristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851 — longcomb sawfish, green sawfishThese 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, leading recent authorities to treat them as synonyms. Anoxypristis cuspidata was formerly included in Pristis, but it has a number of distinctive features and recent authorities place it in its own genus.
Extinct species
According to Fossilworks, extinct Pristis species only known from fossil remains include:Pristis acutidens Agassiz 1843Pristis amblodon Cope 1869Pristis aquitanicus Delfortrie 1871Pristis atlanticus Zbyszewski 1947Pristis bisulcatus Agassiz 1843Pristis brachyodon Cope 1869Pristis brayi Casier 1949Pristis caheni Dartevelle and Casier 1959Pristis contortus Dixon 1850Pristis curvidens Leidy 1855Pristis dubius Münster 1846Pristis ensidens Leidy 1855Pristis fajumensis Stromer 1905Pristis hastingsiae Agassiz 1843Pristis lanceolatus Jonet 1968Pristis lathami Galeotti 1837Pristis olbrechtsi Dartevelle and Casier 1959Pristis pectinatus Latham 1794Pristis pickeringi Case 1981Pristis prosulcatus Stromer 1905However, 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.