Body Movements:
- Tail Slapping: Sawfish can use their saw-like snout and tail to slap the water surface, creating a loud clapping sound. This behavior can serve as a warning to potential predators or to communicate with other sawfish.
- Saw Waving: Sawfish may wave their saw from side to side in a distinct pattern. This could be a form of visual signaling, potentially used in mating rituals or territorial disputes.
- Breaching: Sawfish sometimes leap out of the water, known as breaching. This behavior could be a way to communicate excitement or to startle predators or rivals.
Sounds:
- Clicking Sounds: Sawfish can produce clicking sounds by clicking their jaws together. These clicks may serve as a means of communication, either for courtship purposes or to convey messages about danger or other circumstances.
- Grunting and Moaning: Sawfish can emit low-frequency grunts or moans. These sounds are mainly associated with mating and courtship behaviors.
- Snout Grunting: Some sawfish species can create deep, guttural sounds by vibrating the cartilage of their snouts. This behavior is primarily observed in males during the mating season.
Although there has been some research on sawfish vocalizations, the specific meanings and contexts of these sounds are not yet fully understood. Further studies and observations are needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how smalltooth sawfish communicate with each other.