- Longnose sawshark
Taxobox
name = Longnose sawshark
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = unknown
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Chondrichthyes
subclassis =Elasmobranchii
ordo =Pristiophoriformes
familia =Pristiophoridae
genus = "Pristiophorus "
species = "P. cirratus"
range_
range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Range of longnose sawshark (in blue)
binomial = "Pristiophorus cirratus"
binomial_authority = (Latham, 1794)The longnose sawshark, "Pristiophorus cirratus", is a
sawshark of the familyPristiophoridae , found in the easternIndian Ocean around southernAustralia on thecontinental shelf at depths of between 40 and 310 m. Its length is up to 1.35 m.The longnose sawshark has a long, narrow, and narrowly tapering rostrum (rostrum length is 27% to 29% of total length), and the distance from the rostral tip to the
barbel s about equal or slightly greater than the distance from the barbels to the mouth; distance from the rostral barbels to the nostrils is slightly less or equal to the distance from the nostrils to the first to the fourthgill slits. There are about 9 to 10 large rostral teeth on each side of the rostrum in front of the barbels, and 9 behind them; the distance from the mouth to the nostrils is 1.3 to 1.4 times the internarial space. There are tooth rows of 39 to 49 in the upper jaw. The dorsal andpectoral fin s are covered withdenticle s in large specimens. The lateral trunk denticles are largely unicuspidate. The first dorsal fin origin is behind the free rear tips of pectorals by an eye length or more. There is a body pattern of dark blotches (mostly darker bands between pectoral fin bases, over gill slits, between spiracles and below dorsal fins) and spots (occasionally faint). The nostrils, almost circular, are situated about 2/3 way from barbels to the corner of the mouth, the width at nostrils more than 4.5 in preoral snout in adults; preoral snout length more than 2.3 times distance from barbels to snout tip. The rostral teeth have dark margins, and the underside abruptly uniformly white. The first dorsal fin origin is behind the free rear tips of pectorals by an eye length or more. Thecaudal fin is almost straight, with slender upper and lower lobes, and the pectoral fin is well developed but not ray-like.It forms schools, and feeds on small fishes, including
cornet fish es (Fistularia), andcrustacean s. Reproduction isovoviviparous , with 3 to 22 young in a litter. The size at birth is about 31 to 34 cm. The longnose sawshark may live for more than 15 years. The flesh is utilized fresh and frozen, the meat being of excellent quality.References
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External links
* [http://www.sharkinformation.org/sharkprofiles/long-nose-saw-shark/ Longnose Sawshark Profile and Photos]
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