Rarest Fish Species – Smalltooth Sawfish

The Smalltooth Sawfish has an unusual appearance and derives its name from its long blade-like snout. Despite its appearance, the Smalltooth Sawfish is connected to rays, which are cartilaginous fish. Historically, the Smalltooth Sawfish was much more common in tropical and subtropical areas of the western and eastern Atlantic Oceans. Today, the Smalltooth Sawfish can only be found off the coast of Florida and around several Bahamas islands.

The Smalltooth Sawfish is most likely extinct in many of its previously known habitats, according to the IUCN Red List. Since around 1962, it is thought that more than 95 percent of the Smalltooth Sawfish population has been destroyed. Targeted fishing decimated the natural Smalltooth Sawfish population, although many of the fish are still captured in nets designed for other fish.