Sawfish
Sawfish are mostly found in relatively shallow waters, typically at depths less than , and occasionally less than . Young prefer very shallow places and are often found in water only deep. Sawfish can occur offshore, but are rare deeper than . An unidentified sawfish (either a largetooth or smalltooth sawfish) was captured off Central America at a depth in excess of .
Smalltooth sawfish
The many teeth of a sawfish's saw are not actually teeth at all, but rather special types of scales known a dermal denticles. These protruding weapons, combined with the animal's ability to strike from side to side with great force, provide it with a powerful and efficient defense mechanism. Although the saw is mainly used for feeding purposes, observations of sawfish in captivity show that they may also be used for self-defense. When sharks or other marine creatures threaten them, they retaliate with three swift blows to the instigator's dorsum. Sawfish are not considered harmful to humans unless they are threatened.