Young scalloped hammerheads form large schools, whereas the adults tend to live alone or in pairs. According to Dr Coiraton and Dr Amezcua, the persistence of scalloped hammerhead sharks in the Mexican Pacific “might be linked to its behavioural plasticity of movement and habitat use rather than its life history … [20] "This species tendency to aggregate in large groups making capture in large numbers on long lines, bottom nets and trawls even easier". [2], It is a sister species to Sphyrna gilberti, differing by the number of vertebrae. These sharks are distinguished from other members of the hammerhead family by their scalloped-shape of the front edge of their cephalophoil. Scalloped hammerheads average 6 feet. It is found abundantly in depths of 1600 feet (500 meters) and is also often found in shallower waters of about 80 feet (25 meters). Yet thanks to overfishing and shark finning practices this species is now since 2008 on the “globally endangered” species list. Overfishing of this shark species is the principle hazard to its long-term survival, with this occurring in many areas where these animals are found. Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Although schooling has been reported in many shark species, none can match the social complexity of the Scalloped Hammerhead ( Sphyrna lewini ). Size. Size comparison between whale shark and hammerhead shark. The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a species of hammerhead shark, and part of the family Sphyrnidae.Originally known as Zygaena lewini, its genus name was later changed to its current name.The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head. Consent for publication. The teeth are smooth edged. The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is mostly found on the continental shelves and prefers the deeper waters. The body movements used for communication included pushing other sharks using the body, shaking the head, curved swimming maneuvers, swimming while spinning the body on an axis, hitting other sharks in the group using the head and opening the mouth partially. Scalloped hammerhead shark. What happens when you set a remote camera at the world's best dive site? The scalloped hammerhead sharks are sometimes referred to as the kidney-headed shark. 275 m. The younger the sharks, the closer to the surface they tend to be, while the adults are found much deeper in the ocean. A large part of the group is formed by females that are around 1.7 meters in size. The aquarium tried to display a scalloped hammerhead shark in 1989, measuring ~40 cm TL.

Hammerhead Sharks are Viviparous, which means pups grow inside the female shark, similar to humans. English:           scalloped hammerhead, bronze hammerhead shark, hammerhead, hammerhead shark, kidney-headed shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, and southern hammerhead shark This species' head has narrow blades, and the outer edge has a notch in the center and indentations resembling the shell of some scallops. As of 2008, the scalloped hammerhead is on the "globally endangered" species list. The pups measure approx. Great Hammerhead Shark, Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark: Average Size: 0.9 to 6 m: Average Weight: 3 – 580 kg: Average Life Span: 25 – 35 years: Attacks per year: NA: What does Hammerhead shark look like? Scalloped hammerheads commonly prey on stingrays. Their uncommonly small mouths are much better suited for eating fishes. Hammerhead shark species can weigh as little as 6.6 pounds and as much as 1,300 pounds. Scalloped hammerhead shark handling and tagging procedures were approved by the ethics committee at the University of Hawaii (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Protocol #05-053). The Scalloped Hammerhead is a large hammerhead shark. Size range : Weight range : Life span : Status : 1.5 to 4.3 m 70 to 150 kg 20 to 30 years in the wild endangered: There are nine known species of Hammerhead Sharks in the world and the most common one in the Red Sea is the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna Lewini). Meet the scalloped hammerhead shark With that wide, thick head shaped like a double-headed hammer, it's easy to identify a hammerhead shark. 50 cm at birth. Nevertheless, the scalloped hammerhead shark is still prevalent in this area despite being heavily fished. They are threatened by commercial fishing, mainly for the shark fin trade. They are known to swim in packs of 100 or more. Competing interests. The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is mostly found on the continental shelves and prefers the deeper waters. Their distribution in the water reaches from the surface down to a depth of approx. Shark fin soup Hammerhead shark Scalloped hammerhead Shark finning, Hammerhead Shark PNG size: 995x416px filesize: 288.5KB 83″. Photo credit: Mark Royer. Hammerhead sharks travel in schools during the day time and hunt alone at night. Mature females can reach a length of more than 4 meters, the average length is, however, less. In parts of the Atlantic Ocean, their populations have declined by over 95% in the past 30 years. The wide, hammer-shaped head gives these sharks their common name, and the scalloped hammerhead is named for the notches found along the front edge of its head. You can tell it from other hammerheads by the ridges along the front edge of its head. It has also been named Cestracion leeuwenii by Day in 1865, Zygaena erythraea by Klunzinger in 1871, Cestracion oceanica by Garman in 1913, and Sphyrna diplana by Springer in 1941. If the group size is between 6 and 10, which is the maximum number of divers which can be accommodated on the dive boat, we return to shore for surface interval time. The Scalloped Hammerhead is on of 9 species of hammerhead that occur globally. Scalloped hammerheads are estimated to have lost up to ~80% of their original population in QLD waters (2). // ]]> Copyright © 2020 Welcome To SharkSider.com!. Hammerheads areContinue Reading [12] Females probably are capable of giving birth annually. Scalloped hammerhead sharks are moderately large sharks with a global distribution. Free rear tip long; extending almost to pre-caudal pit. Researchers have found evidence that this shark is highly intelligent and they established a proper and accurate social organization within the large groups. The height of the second dorsal fin is less than or equal to the length of the third gill slit. The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) can also reach lengths of more than 13 feet (4 meters). This species also began to be listed in Appendix II CITES in 2013 and received Indonesia government regulation through banning export. [15], The scalloped hammerhead has a lot of advantages to capture its prey. Also, should a population get depleted, it recovers through reproduction and not immigration. Hammerhead sharks can be found in warm waters worldwide. Hammerhead sharks are most common near Wolf Island and Darwin Islands in the north of the archipelago.Galapagos is one of the last remaining places where large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks can be observed. The shark's eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions. They are sensitive to light and because of their enhanced social behavior, these sharks are found closer to shore lines during the day and mostly remain in deep seas during th… Their reproductive process is not entirely known, but both sexes are known to engage in biting. The wide head and special sensory cells allows the scalloped hammerhead to successfully detect fishes. They can range from the surface to more than 902.2 ft [275 m] deep, but are often close inshore and in enclosed bays and estuaries. [12] Unlike females, males reach sexual maturity at a much smaller size. Currently there are no scalloped hammerheads on display. One shark was found with 96 venomous stingray barbs imbedded in its mouth and jaws. [9] During the day, they are more often found close to shore, and at night, they hunt further offshore. The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark… Australian hammerhead shark populations are in decline. ~0.4 : Beijing Landa Aquarium, China On April 28, 1999 six scalloped hammerhead sharks ranging in size from 50 to 68 cm TL were taken on a 42-hour-long transport from the USA to this Chinese aquarium. (2005). [3] Though once considered a distinct species, McEachran and Serret synonymized Sphyrna couardi with Sphyrna lewini in 1986. Scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini swims below a whale shark Rhincodon typus. The name, obviously, comes from the shape of the Shark’s head. First dorsal rear margin almost straight. They are considered quite intelligent due to a well developed brain. Due to its large size, its coastal habitat and its habit of aggregating in large groups, the scalloped hammerhead is … Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks (Sphyrna lewini) are probably the most commonly found species of hammerheads located in coastal regions, appearing in very shallow waters such as estuaries and inlets. The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, also called Sphyrna lewini, belongs to the family of Sphyrnidae sharks. It appears that their main form of communication is done using a complicated set of body movements. Scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini. Distribution The female scalloped hammerheads undergo migration offshore at a smaller size than males[11] because the larger classes of the hammerhead, such as those from 100 to 140 cm long, travel deeper down. [13] By experimentation in tagging these sharks, one could test for any guidance in a shark's movement. (It's possible that these sharks are a separate species, the great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran.) NEW Marine Life Trivia . 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