An exceptional event surprised residents and scholars: the carcass of a saw fish was found along the Costa of Aastern Cape, in South Africa. The specimen, about three meters long, was found in poor condition, but its presence represents a discovery of enormous scientific value, since this species was considered extinct locally.
The discovery was reported to the naturalist Kevin Cole of the East London Museum, famous to host also the famous Celacanto, a prehistoric fish discovered in 1938 and believed to be extinct for millions of years. After analyzing the images, the expert confirmed that it was a common saw fish (Pristis Pristis), one of the two species still present in the South African waters. The last documented sighting dates back to 1999, when a specimen was trapped in an anti-Squal network.
Features and threats for the species
Sega fish belong to the pristides family, cartilaginousness such as sharks and races, and are distinguished by the long grain rostrum, used both to dig in the sand and to hit the prey. Larger individuals can also reach 8 meters, making them among the most impressive coastal predators.
Unfortunately, this family is classified as in a critical endangered danger (CR) in the IUCN red list, due to the loss of habitat and accidental fishing. The discovery therefore confirms the importance of strengthening marine conservation along the South African coasts.
A possible orca attack
According to the first hypotheses, the carcass found shows signs compatible with an attack by a great marine predator, probably an orca. Two specimens are known in South Africa, called Port and Starboard, specialized in the shark attack to feed on their internal organs. It would not be surprising if the Sega fish had also been the victim of these predators.
A warning for conservation
Despite the deteriorated state of the carcass, the discovery of the saw fish on the South African coast represents an important signal: the species may not have completely disappeared. For marine biologists, it is an invitation to strengthen the protection of coastal ecosystems, real biodiversity shelters that need immediate protection.
An important discovery for marine conservation in South Africa. A Sawfish, Thought to Be Locally Extinct in Our Waters, …
Posted by East London Museum on Tuesday, September 23, 2025
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