Japanese record of Anoxypristis cuspidata (Rhinopristiformes; Pristidae) with comments on the standard Japanese name and current status in Japan

Abstract

A single specimen (1230 mm total length) of Pointed Sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata (Latham, 1794), trawled in the East China Sea and landed at Tokyo Market on 5 March 1928, was discovered in the fish collection of the Department of Zoology, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo. The specimen was the basis for the species being considered as probably distributed in Japanese waters. Adoption of the standard Japanese name for species in the family Pristidae are discussed, based on published records of the family in East Asia, together with examination of a Japanese specimen of Pristis pristis (Linnaeus, 1758). The standard Japanese name “Nokogiriei” should be applied to A. cuspidata, with the new standard Japanese name “Oonokogiriei” proposed for P. pristis. Additionally, the standard Japanese name of the order Rhinopristiformes is discussed. Based on previous reports and the current distribution of both species, it is believed that A. cuspidata is extinct in Japanese waters, with P. pristis likely to be of similar status.