Dwarf sawshark

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iDwarf sawshark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Pristiophoriformes
Family: Pristiophoridae
Genus: Pristiophorus
Species: P. sp.D
Binomial name
Pristiophorus sp.D

The dwarf sawshark, Pristiophorus sp.D, is a sawshark of the family Pristiophoridae, found in the west Indian Ocean from Mozambique and possibly Somalia, to the Arabian Sea off Pakistan, at depths of between 285 and 500 m. Its length is up to 62 cm.

The dwarf sawshark is very small with a broad triangular first dorsal fin, the rear tip extending behind the the pelvic fin midbase. There are two rows of four or five enlarged pits on the underside of the saw, forward of the barbels. The barbels are much closer to the mouth than the rostral tip.

Coloration is a uniform brown above, white below, with a pale rostrum containing dark brown stripes on the middle and edges. The pectoral and dorsal fins have dark anterior margins (obvious in juveniles), and prominant light trailing edges.

Its reproduction is presumed to be ovoviviparous.

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