SeaWorld Orlando welcomes three critically endangered smalltooth sawfish pups

SeaWorld Orlando recently welcomed three smalltooth sawfish pups becoming the only aquarium in the U.S. to showcase the marine animals and the second worldwide to have a successful birth, the aquarium said Wednesday.

The pups, born on July 11, 2023, include two females and one male, SeaWorld Orlando said in a press release. The marine animals that look like little sharks with their saw-shaped rostrums measured approximately two feet in length.

SeaWorld said that the pups underwent a comprehensive examination after their birth and continue to receive regular check-ups to "ensure their sustained health and expected developmental progress". The check-ups are essential for saving these critically endangered species from extinction.

What is a smalltooth sawfish?

Smalltooth sawfish are categorized as ray, despite their shark-like bodies, showcasing gills and mouths on their undersides, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries states. The marine creatures get their name from their distinct rostrum - a long, flat snout edged with teeth - that looks like a saw. They are usually olive gray to brown on top and have a white underside.

Sawfishes belong to a group of fish called elasmobranchs that include rays, skates and sharks. Elasmobranchs have no bones. Their skeletons are instead made of cartilage.

The pups are born fully developed at a length of approximately 2 feet, with their sawfish teeth covered by a thick material that dissolves within a few days/weeks. This adaptation protects both the mother and other siblings while in utero.

Smalltooth sawfish typically live in tropical seas and estuaries of the Atlantic Ocean, the NOAA states, preferring shallow, coastal waters. In the U.S., they can be found in Florida’s coastal waters.

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Smalltooth sawfish at SeaWorld Orlando

Two adult smalltooth sawfish have lived at SeaWorld Orlando since the 1980s. The duo currently resides in the 700,000-gallon Shark Encounter main habitat and have the title of the largest fish in the park.

In late May, the marine center's veterinary teams discovered through ultrasound that the female sawfish was pregnant. Given the significance of this development, the female sawfish was relocated to the Aquarium Health Center so that she could be closely monitored through the birth of the pups.

The aquarium does not intend to put them the pups on display just yet. They will remain behind the scenes as they grow and develop under supervision.

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'Historic'

Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando, Dr. Joseph Gaspard, hailed the birth of the pups as "a significant achievement" in a statement and said that it is a "privilege" to care for them.

Sawfish Recovery Coordinator for the NOAA, Adam Brame, called the births "historic."

"These young sawfish will provide a great opportunity for researchers and aquarists to learn more about juvenile growth and development," said Brame, in a statement. "But equally important, this will be a chance for the public to witness and develop an understanding of these majestic creatures. It is through these opportunities that greater conservation can be achieved."

Conservation of Sawfish

The only species of sawfish to be found in U.S. water, smalltooth sawfish are critically endangered and were the first marine fish to be protected by the Endangered Species Act twenty years ago, following a significant decline in population from habitat loss and unintended capture by fishers.

Efforts are being made to protect these species from becoming extinct with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) developing the Sawfish Species Survival Plan to help facilitate the future reproductive success of these animals.

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Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @saman_shafiq7.