Sawfish

ocean · giant fish · endangered

Saw-like snout. A sawfish's nose is actually called a rostrum, and it's covered with sharp teeth arranged in rows on both sides, making it look exactly like a saw. They use this incredible tool to sense prey, dig in the sand, and slash through schools of fish.

Seriously huge size. Some sawfish grow to be 23 to 25 feet long, which is about as long as a school bus! This makes them among the biggest fish in the entire ocean.

Tropical water dwellers. Sawfish live in warm coastal waters all around the world, but they can also swim up into rivers and lakes where fresh water flows. They're comfortable in both salty ocean water and freshwater environments.

Critically endangered. Sadly, all sawfish species are in serious trouble and face the risk of disappearing forever. Fishing nets, habitat loss, and pollution have made their populations drop dangerously low.

Sensing superpowers. Sawfish use their saw-like snout to find hidden prey on the seafloor by detecting electrical signals that fish bodies give off, even when they're buried in sand.