Common Sawshark

The common sawshark is instantly recognisable by its long, flattened snout edged with tooth-like projections—a living saw used to probe the seafloor and slash at prey. Growing to around 1.4 m, this small shark haunts sandy and muddy bottoms in cool temperate waters, typically between 50–300 m deep. It feeds on small fish and crustaceans, hunting with that distinctive saw in short, rapid strokes. Divers visiting deeper reefs and continental shelves in southern waters may encounter these cryptic bottom-dwellers resting on the sand.