Hammerhead Shark
ExploreFish
Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna spp.
Hammerhead Sharks have a unique hammer-shaped head! They are great swimmers and can be found in warm waters.
Habitat: Warm ocean waters
Appearance
The Hammerhead Shark has a distinctive, flattened T-shaped head with eyes positioned on each end. Its body is typically grey-brown on top, blending into a white underside. This unique head shape makes it visually different from all other sharks.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderCarcharhiniformesFamilySphyrnidaeGenusSphyrna
Category
FishRarity
Rare
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Some hammerhead species give birth to live pups, not eggs!
Their unique head is called a 'cephalofoil' by scientists.
They sometimes get a 'sunburn' if they swim too long in shallow waters!
Young hammerheads gather in huge groups, sometimes hundreds, for safety!
Special abilities
Ability
Panoramic Vision
Hammerhead Sharks have eyes at the ends of their wide head, which gives them an almost 360-degree view around them.
Ability
Prey Detector
Hammerhead Sharks can find hidden prey because they have special sensors on their wide head that detect electrical signals.
Ability
Ray Pinning Power
Hammerhead Sharks can pin down stingrays with their shovel-shaped head, which helps them catch their favorite food.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 250-610 cm
- Weight
- 80-450 kg
- Lifespan
- 20-40 years
- Swim Speed
- 25 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 500 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
Hammerheads are hungry hunters that gobble up fish, stingrays, and even crabs!
Primary Foods
- stingrays
- smaller fish
- crabs
- squid
- octopus
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
eats
Southern stingray
Hypanus americanus
A favorite meal for hammerheads.
eats
Striped mullet
Mugil cephalus
Common schooling fish hunted by sharks.
eaten by
Orca
Orcinus orca
Occasionally preyed upon by killer whales.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Electrogenic
This trait describes organisms capable of generating electric fields or electric shocks.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
HammerheadHammerhead Shark Species
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Hammerhead Shark?
250-610 cm
How much does Hammerhead Shark weigh?
80-450 kg
How long does Hammerhead Shark live?
20-40 years
What does Hammerhead Shark eat?
Hammerheads are hungry hunters that gobble up fish, stingrays, and even crabs!
How fast can Hammerhead Shark swim?
25 km/h
Where is Hammerhead Shark usually found?
Warm ocean waters
How does Hammerhead Shark hunt?
Pursuit
How deep can Hammerhead Shark go?
500 m
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