Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
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| Scalloped Hammerhead | ||||||||||||||
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| Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Hamilton Smith, 1834) |
The Scalloped Hammerhead is a member of the hammerhead family originally called Zygaena lewini, but was later renamed to its current name, Sphyrna lewini. The Greek word 'Sphyrna' translates into 'Hammer' in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head.
This shark can also be refered to as: Scalloped Hammerhead, Bronze Hammerhead, Kidney-headed or Southern Hammerhead. It primarily lives in warm temperate and tropical coastal waters all around the globe down to a depth of 300m. It is the most common of all hammer heads.
Anatomy and appearance
The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark as in all hammer heads is the 'hammer' on its head. The shark's eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions. The max length of the scalloped hammer head is 430 centimeter and the maximum weigth 150 Kg.
Behavior
This shark is often seen in the day in big schools, sometimes numbering hundereds. They are considered dangerous but is normally not agressive to humans.
Diet
They eat bony fishes and cephalopods.