Smalltooth Sawfish

This is an x-ray image of a smalltooth sawfish along with a corresponding photograph of the specimen in identical pose. The long toothy rostrum or “saw” gives sawfish their common name. They use the saw to dig in the sand for crustaceans or to attack prey by vigorously slashing from side to side. Note that the radiograph is a composite: where the two images were spliced, the vertebral column appears to be “broken” behind the head.