Study: Sawfish snouts a 'complete weapon'

BRISBANE, Australia, March 5 (UPI) -- The 3-foot toothed snout of sawfish, whose exact purpose had been unclear, has been found to be a complete hunting weapon, Australian researchers say.

Scientists had previously determined the fishes' saws allowed them to sense and identify prey by their electric field.

Now researchers in Australia say they've filmed captive sawfish using their saws to impale large chunks of mullet and tuna, standing in for prey, on the sharp saw teeth.

"I like to call it an antenna and a weapon, because that's what it is -- it helps them to find the prey, but then also to kill it," research leader Barbara Wueringer from the University of Queensland told the BBC.

In the video the sawfish are seen approaching the "prey" and swiping vigorously, impaling the flesh on the saw's teeth.

Wueringer said she is hopeful the new research could lead to practical ideas that would keep the endangered species alive.

Sawfish, with their long, toothed snouts, are especially prone to entanglement in fishing nets.

"There is an upcoming field of research where people are trying to work with different electric field strengths or magnetic fields to deter animals like sharks and rays from fishing gear," she said.