Narrow Sawfish

Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata) embryos taken from the uterus of a deceased pregnant female. The embyos are in the early stages of development, probably no more than 2 months old. The yolky oocytes were present in the ovaries, this finding indicates that the species has an annual reproductive cycle. A very important life history characteristic because the species has a greater reproductive rate than an animal that only pups every second or third year as in the case of the Tiger shark. Therefore the narrow sawfish can tolerate greater pressures placed on their survival (mortality), such as fishing pressure.

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