THE BIGGEST smalltooth sawfish ever recorded has washed up dead in Florida.
The 16-foot female had large eggs inside her but scientists are still trying to work out her age and how she died.
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The spiky toothed fish died last week along with another 12 foot specimen.
A Facebook post from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission explained: “FWC sawfish biologists responded to sawfish hotline reports of two large smalltooth sawfish that died in the Florida Keys this week.
“One was a mature 16-foot female that weighed an estimated 800-1000 pounds and the other was an immature female 12 feet, 4 inches long and weighed an estimated 400-500 pounds.
“The 16-foot sawfish (pictured) is the longest measured by scientists since research began on the species.”
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Both fish are currently being studied so we can learn more about the endangered species.
Gregg Poulakis, a biologist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said: “Although it’s a sad occurrence when a big animal like that dies, from a scientific standpoint we knew we could learn a lot from it.
“That makes us feel a little bit better about having lost such a big female.”
The timing of the deaths of both fish is just thought to be a sad coincidence.
The fish has been on the US federal endangered species list since 2003 so any reports of them washing up is taken seriously.
We don’t know much about the species but they are known for their flat shape and unusual saw like nose with protruding teeth.
So far, the researchers know the 16 foot sawfish was a mature adult female and had eggs inside her the same size as softballs or tennis balls.
Sawfish pregnancies last a year and they usually give birth to babies around 2.5 feet long.
The species is found in shallow coastal waters in tropical and subtropical places but they’re commonly seen around Florida and northern Australia.
They’re not thought to be harmful to humans but humans often accidentally harm them when their long noses get caught in fishing nets.
Although 16-foot is the largest smalltooth sawfish ever recorded by scientists, some experts think they can grow to around 25 feet.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
