Florida Museum of Natural History

Sawfish Outreach and Education

Sawfish Images

WHERE DO SAWFISH LIVE?

Lesson Summary:
This lesson examines the diversity of locations and habitats where sawfish are found throughout the world.

Vocabulary:
Distribution, habitats

Background Information:
There are six recognized species of sawfish throughout the world. In this activity the distribution range of each species will be discussed and mapped. Information on each species can be found in the “Sawfish In Peril” teaching binder within each of the species profiles.

Materials:
Copies of activity map sheets and species profile laminated cards with maps
Pencils: colored pencils recommended

Procedure:
This activity begins by getting students to look at the different maps of sawfish species distribution. Have each student color in a map template of the distribution of a favorite sawfish species or have students form groups to color the maps for each species.

Discussion Questions:
Where do sawfish live?
What habitats do sawfish reside in?
Where would you go if you wanted to see a sawfish?

Extension Activities:
For more advanced students, the following questions can be discussed:
What determines where sawfish species live?
Do sawfish prefer certain water temperatures and habitat types?
In the past, did sawfish have larger distribution than they do currently? If so, why do you think that is?
Where can you see a sawfish in an aquarium?


Maps of sawfish species geographical distribution (from the species bioprofiles):





































Sawfish bioprofiles include taxonomic, geographic distribution, habitat, description, dentition, feeding habits, reproduction, importance to humans and conservation information for each of the six featured species: (HINT! - visit these pages to get help with the above discussion questions)

Smalltooth Sawfish

Largetooth Sawfish

Green Sawfish

Freshwater Sawfish

Dwarf Sawfish

Knifetooth Sawfish

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Sawfishes currently kept in public aquaria include: the dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), the freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon), the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and the green sawfish (Pristis zijsron).

Live sawfishes can be viewed in the United States in the following aquaria (please always check ahead of time prior to visiting to confirm this information):

• California:
 Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach: 1 freshwater sawfish
Six Flags Marine World at Vallejo: 1 smalltooth sawfish

• Colorado:
 Downtown Aquarium Denver: 2 green sawfish

• Florida:
 SeaWorld Adventure Park in Orlando: 2 smalltooth sawfish

• Georgia:
 Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta: 5 freshwater sawfish

• Illinois:
 John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago: 1 green sawfish

• Maryland:
 National Aquarium in Baltimore: 2 freshwater sawfish

• Minnesota:
 Underwater Adventures Aquarium in Bloomington: 2 green sawfish

• Nevada:
 Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas: 3 green sawfish

• New Jersey:
 Adventure Aquarium in Camden: 1 freshwater and 1 green sawfish

• South Carolina:
 Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach: 1 freshwater, 2 smalltooth, and 1 green sawfish

• Tennessee:
 Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg: 2 freshwater, 1 smalltooth, and 1 green sawfish
Aquarium Restaurant (Landry's) in Nashville: 1 freshwater sawfish
Downtown Aquarium (Landry's) in Houston: 2 green sawfish

• Texas:
 Downtown Aquarium (Landry's) in Houston: 2 green sawfish



Sawfish