Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 134, February 2016, pp. 1-44. | Page 25

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Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa and his beloved wife Ola Mostafa
Khalaf and his beloved daughter Nora Norman Ali Khalaf are standing near the fossil
skeleton of the Whale Dorudon atrox at Wadi El-Hitan (Whales Valley), Al-Fayyum, AlSahraa Al-Gharbiah (Western Desert), Egypt. 11.07.2012.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15297854928/

Sawfish
Sawfishes, also known as carpenter sharks, are a family (Pristidae) of rays
characterized by a long, narrow, flattened rostrum, or nose extension, lined with
sharp transverse teeth, arranged so as to resemble a saw. Several species of
sawfishes can grow to about 7 m (23 feet). The family as a whole is largely
unknown and little studied. The Pristidae are the only living family within
the order Pristiformes, whose name comes from the Ancient Greek:
πρίστης prístēs ―saw, sawyer‖ (Wikipedia).
Sawfishes should not be confused with sawsharks (order Pristiophoriformes),
which have a similar appearance (Wikipedia).
All species of sawfishes are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered by
the IUCN, and face the threat of extinction as a result of habitat
loss and overfishing. Global populations of every species of sawfishes are
estimated to have fallen to less than 10% of their historic levels. The smalltooth
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 134 – February 2016