bonnethead
ExploreFish
bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo
The bonnethead is a small shark that looks like a hammerhead but has a rounder head! They swim in warm waters and are known for their playful nature, often seen gliding gracefully through the ocean.
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The bonnethead has a distinct, shovel-shaped head, much like a wide spade, making it easily identifiable among sharks. Its body is typically grey-brown on top, fading to a lighter underside, providing camouflage in coastal waters. Unlike other hammerheads, its head is smooth and broadly rounded.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderCarcharhiniformesFamilySphyrnidaeGenusSphyrna
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Bonnetheads have a surprisingly large brain for their body size, especially for smell and vision!
Female bonnetheads can sometimes have babies all on their own, without a male shark!
Their wide, shovel-like head helps them 'sweep' the ocean floor, flushing out hidden crabs!
These sharks sometimes travel in huge groups, with hundreds of individuals cruising together!
Special abilities
Ability
Electro-Sense
Bonnethead sharks can detect the faint electrical signals of hidden prey thanks to special sensors on their unique head shape.
Ability
Super Sniffer
The bonnethead has widely spaced nostrils that help them pinpoint the direction of smells like food with incredible accuracy.
Ability
Vegetable Power
Bonnetheads have unique enzymes to digest seagrass, helping them get nutrients from plants, which is rare for a shark.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 60-150 cm
- Weight
- 2.5-12 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-12 years
- Swim Speed
- 15 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 80 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
These small sharks primarily eat shellfish, crabs, and some fish, but also surprisingly consume seagrass.
Age differences: Younger bonnetheads eat more small crustaceans, while adults incorporate more seagrass into their diet.
Primary Foods
- Crabs
- Shrimp
- Small fish
- Mollusks
- Seagrass
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Blue crab
Callinectes sapidus
A primary food source in coastal waters.
eats
White shrimp
Litopenaeus setiferus
A common prey item found on the seafloor.
eats
Turtle grass
Thalassia testudinum
Provides plant matter and nutrients to their diet.
eaten by
Bull shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Larger predatory shark that can prey on bonnetheads.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Omnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Bonnethead Shark
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Always stay close to an adult when swimming in the ocean and watch for sharks from a safe distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is bonnethead?
60-150 cm
How much does bonnethead weigh?
2.5-12 kg
How long does bonnethead live?
5-12 years
What does bonnethead eat?
These small sharks primarily eat shellfish, crabs, and some fish, but also surprisingly consume seagrass.
How fast can bonnethead swim?
15 km/h
Where is bonnethead usually found?
Coastal areas
How does bonnethead hunt?
Foraging
How deep can bonnethead go?
80 m
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