Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Facts about Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, "Scientific name for Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is Sphyrna lewini". Scalloped hammerhead sharks come from the family of Sphyrnidae and hammerhead shark species. They were not always known by their current name since originally they were called Zygaena lewini. The shape of the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks head look like a hammer and that explains the origin of their name. This is one of the most distinguishing characteristics from other hammerheads.

The Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks live in warm temperate and tropical waters across the world. They go down to a depth of 1600 ft but in most of the time you will find them above 82 ft. At night the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark go to hunt offshore but during the day they always stays close to the shore.

Adults’ Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks either hunt alone or in groups but the young ones always hunt in large numbers. Generally, they like hunting in groups because that way it is easier for them to catch large preys.

Male hammerhead sharks stays deeper in water than the females. This is a good way of distinguishing the male Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks from the females. Sexual maturity is observed to occur when the sharks are around 95 inches (240 cm) long. But for the males reach maturity at a smaller size.

The female gives birth annually around summer. The gestation period lasts around 12 months. There is a high infant mortality rate reported for the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks but they always go to the same natal sites year after year. Parenting of the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks has not been seen.

They feed on fish like sardines, mackerel and herring. Some other occasions they can feed on cephalopods like squid and octopus. Scalloped hammerheads will prey on stingrays. For the larger Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks, small sharks like the blacktip reef shark are their major prey.

It is interesting to note that even when there is starvation the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks don’t attack each other for food. But surprisingly the Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks have been in great danger for some time now. They are sought after due to their shark fin which is a delicacy for many.
There are over 400 types of sharks, Sharks have the most powerful jaws on on earth. Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks jaws, both the upper and lower jaws move. Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks skin is made of denticles instead of scales like other fish. The denticles are constructed like hard, sharp teeth (tooth-like projection) and this helps to protect the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark from being injury. The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is carnivores meaning: an animal that feeds on flesh (Meat).