CR

Anoxypristis cuspidata

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Pointed Sawfish faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across its range, where it is caught both as target species and bycatch in gillnets and trawls. Its distinctive rostrum makes it particularly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear, while coastal development and pollution have degraded critical nursery habitats in shallow estuarine waters. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity severely limit its ability to recover from fishing mortality.

Threat summary

Habitat

Anoxypristis cuspidata inhabits shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and river mouths throughout the Indo-Pacific region, preferring muddy or sandy bottoms in depths typically less than 40 meters. Juveniles rely heavily on protected estuarine environments as nursery areas, while adults may venture into deeper offshore waters but remain closely associated with continental shelf habitats.

Marine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Anoxypristis cuspidata classified as Critically Endangered?
Anoxypristis cuspidata is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Pointed Sawfish faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure across its range, where it is caught both as target species and bycatch in gillnets and trawls. Its distinctive rostrum makes it particularly vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear, while coastal development and pollution have degraded critical nursery habitats in shallow estuarine waters. The species' slow growth rate and late sexual maturity severely limit its ability to recover from fishing mortality.
Where does Anoxypristis cuspidata live?
Anoxypristis cuspidata occurs in Australia, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, China, India, and Indonesia (plus 16 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Anoxypristis cuspidata?
The main threats to Anoxypristis cuspidata are 10.2, 11.1, 2.4, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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