Meet the Hammerhead Shark
The hammerhead shark is one of the ocean’s most instantly recognizable predators, named for its uniquely shaped head, called a “cephalofoil”, which stretches out wide and flat like a hammer. There are actually several species of hammerhead, ranging from the small bonnethead to the massive great hammerhead, which can grow to nearly 20 feet long.
Habitat
Hammerheads are found in warm coastal waters and open ocean around the world, often near continental shelves and reef systems. Scalloped hammerheads are especially known for gathering in large daytime schools near seamounts before dispersing to hunt alone at night.
Diet & Hunting
That wide head isn’t just distinctive, it’s a hunting tool. Hammerheads have a much broader field of vision than most sharks, and their spread-out sensory organs (the Ampullae of Lorenzini) let them detect the faint electrical signals of prey buried in sand, particularly their favorite meal: stingrays.
Reproduction
Hammerheads give birth to live young, with litters ranging from a dozen to several dozen pups depending on species. Pups are born fully independent and receive no parental care after birth.
Lifespan
Most hammerhead species live 20 to 30 years in the wild, though this varies by species and environmental pressures like fishing.
Interesting Facts
- Hammerheads have nearly 360-degree vertical vision thanks to their eye placement.
- Some hammerhead species are known to school by the hundreds during the day, one of the few social schooling behaviors documented in sharks.
- Several hammerhead species are now classified as endangered or critically endangered due to overfishing and the shark fin trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are hammerhead sharks dangerous to humans?
Rarely. Hammerheads are generally shy around humans and attacks are extremely uncommon.
Why do hammerheads have such a strangely shaped head?
It improves their vision and their ability to sense electrical fields, both major hunting advantages, especially for finding buried prey like stingrays.
More Sharks to Explore
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