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Smalltooth Sawfish Research Paper

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The smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata (Latham 1794) species are a large batoid elasmobranch that prefers very specific habitats (Simpfendorfer et al., 2010). They are also a K-selected species, which means that the smalltooth have a late maturity, a small pup size and a slow growth rate (Seitz & Poulakis, 2006). The smalltooth sawfish species can be identified from the undefined or undeveloped lower caudal fin (Gómez-Rodríguez et al., 2014). Another identifier is the first dorsal fin is in line with the beginning of the pelvic fin (Gómez-Rodríguez et al., 2014). Unlike the other sawfish, the P. pectinata have about 20 to 34 rostral teeth on the saw, which is more than most species (Gómez-Rodríguez et al., 2014). The P. pectinata’s habitat …show more content…

In the southeast coastal zones the urban development is about 4 times the average development around the nation (NMFS, 2009). The main locations that companies want to build on are wetlands (SAFMC, 1998). Construction does not only fill in the wetlands but it also is a source of toxins in the environment, causes eutrophication and modifies the water quality parameters (NMFS, 2009). With urbanization, seawalls and canal were constructed to protect the new buildings (SAFMC, 1998). The seawalls and canal construction mostly replace mangrove shorelines and shallow estuarine waters, which is the exact habitat specifications of the smalltooth sawfish (NMFS, 2009). One example of urbanization is the Indian River Lagoon in Florida (Gilmore, 1995). The species population in the Indian River Lagoon used to be abundant but now after all the construction in the area, the sawfish populations have disappeared (Gilmore, 1995). By taking away the critical habitats of the smalltooth sawfish, the populations dramatically declined to a point of almost going …show more content…

pecinata has been profitable for any seller in it (NMFS, 2009). Almost every part of the smalltooth sawfish can be sold to make money. The fins are sold for shark fin soup in Asia (NOAA, 2010). Apparently sawfish fins have more flavor than most shark fins, so there is a high demand for their fins (NOAA, 2010). The whole rostra are sold as a ceremonial weapon in Asia (NOAA, 2010). The rostra have a very high demand but no supply since the populations are gone, so it sells for several thousands of dollars (NOAA, 2010). The rostral teeth sell to Peru to be attached to the legs of roosters for cock fighting (NOAA, 2010). The meat and organs are used for the oils and lipids and the skin is sold to make leather (NOAA, 2010). Any fisherman selling parts of the smalltooth sawfish can make a good deal of money. Even though it is illegal to sell parts of the sawfish, it is still done today. The fins of the sawfish look almost identical to shark fins, so fisherman can get by selling them as shark fins (Feldheim et al., 2010). With destruction of the smalltooth sawfish specific habitat and overfished, their population has a long way to go to

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