ANIMAL OF THE DAY: HAMMERHEAD SHARK

Hammerhead Shark – Family

Sphyrnidae

Facts about Hammerhead Sharks

Many individuals find the hammerhead
shark to be one of the most fascinating.
The very strange and different look it
offers definitely gets it noticed. This one
species of shark that doesn’t get confused
with any other out there. Since most
hammerhead sharks are harmless to
humans they aren’t feared either like so
many of them are in the waters. There are
9 separate species of hammerhead sharks
out there and only three species can be
dangerous to humans.
They prefer to live in warm water that is
found along the coastlines. They can be
found in tropic and sub tropic waters all
over the world. They tend to migrate to
cooler water in the summer months. They
prefer to live well below the surface of the
water.

Facts about Hammerhead Shark

The shape of their head allows them to be
able to find prey easier. Since their eyes
are set apart they can see what is going on
in various directions better than other
species of sharks. They also have plenty of
sensory organs in their head so they can
feel vibrations and movements of their prey
when they don’t see them.

What do Hammerhead Sharks
Eat?

While the hammerhead shark is mellow, it
takes hunting for food very seriously. They
have a great sense of smell so they are
able to locate food without too much
trouble. They eat a variety of foods
including small fish, sting rays, small
sharks, and squid. There are reports that
when food is scarce the hammerheads will
eat each other as a last resort in order to
survive.

Hammerhead shark – Family
Sphyrnidae

The Anatomy of a Hammerhead
Shark

There is no mistaking a hammerhead shark
when you see one. The head is wide and
very thick. It looks like a hammer at both
ends and their eyes are set out on these
ends so they are very far apart. The body
is a light gray on the top with white
underneath. They have a dorsal fin that is
very big and it has a point at the top of it.
They feature rows of teeth just like other
types of sharks. They have a triangle
shape to them and they are extremely
sharp. They vary significantly in size and
weight. They can end up being 20 feet
long. They can also weigh from 500 to
1,000 pounds.
Most species of hammerhead sharks have
a greenish tint to them. Some are a light
gray while others are more green.
Underneath they are white which allows
them to blend in well in the water and to
go undetected by their prey.

Reproduction of Hammerhead
Sharks

Female hammerhead sharks give birth to
their pups. They can have from 20-40 of
them at any one time. They immediately
separate themselves from the young
though. Since these sharks have such a
unique shape they are often feared in the
water so they don’t have too many
enemies. A good percentage of the young
hammerheads will survive.

The Future for Hammerhead
Sharks

The exact number of hammerhead sharks
found around the world isn’t fully known.
Since they are often so deep below the
surface of the water it is hard to get an
exact count. Yet researchers believer this
is a sufficient number of them that they
aren’t in danger at all.
Hammerhead sharks seem to adapt well to
their surroundings. Since they are willing to
eat whatever they can get their hands on
they will continue to survive. One concern
for them is changes in the temperature of
the water as they don’t seem to do well
when it is too cold.