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The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks that form the family Sphyrnidae, named for the unusual and distinctive form of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a cephalofoil (a T-shape or "hammer"). The shark's eyes are placed one on either end of this T-shaped structure, with their small mouths directly centered and underneath.
1 day ago · A new-to-science hammerhead species, the shovelhead shark, has been hiding in plain sight for three centuries due to its close resemblance to a long-lost relative, the bonnethead shark.
- The hammerhead part of the shark’s head is called a cephalofoil. The hammerhead shark’s cephalofoil serves many purposes. It can help them navigate and find food, and it can also help them swim by boosting the hydrodynamic shape of their body.
- They use their head as a weapon when hunting! There have been times that the hammerhead shark has been caught using their head to literally hammer down prey.
- Hammerhead sharks are unaffected by stingray stings. The number one prey of choice for the hammerhead shark is the stingray. In fact, they’re one of the most likely animals to be caught on the receiving end of this shark’s powerful hammering when hunting.
- Almost all species of hammerhead shark are critically endangered. The name “hammerhead shark” actually refers to an entire family of sharks known as “Sphyrnidae”, which includes a genus known “Sphyrna”.
Oct 8, 2024 · Hammerhead shark, any of 10 shark species belonging to the genera Sphyrna (9 species) and Eusphyrna (1 species), characterized by a flattened hammer- or shovel-shaped head, or cephalofoil. These sharks are widely distributed in tropical and temperate marine waters near the coasts and above the continental shelves.
Weight: 500 to 1,000 pounds. A hammerhead shark uses its wide head to trap stingrays by pinning them to the seafloor. The shark's eye placement, on each end of its very wide head, allows it to scan more area more quickly than other sharks can. The hammerhead also has special sensors across its head that helps it scan for food in the ocean.
The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine identified species of this shark. It can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, although smaller sizes are more common. Found in ...
Great hammerhead. The great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) is the largest species of hammerhead shark, belonging to the family Sphyrnidae, attaining an average length of 4.6 m (15 ft) and reaching a maximum length of 6.2 m (20 ft). It is found in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide, inhabiting coastal areas and the continental shelf.
