Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Sphyrnidae
Fast Facts
Description
Hammerhead Sharks are famous for their hammer-shaped heads. They are fast swimmers and skilled hunters found in warm oceans worldwide.
Size
3 to 20 feet long.
Weight
90 to 1,000+ pounds.
Diet
Hammerhead Sharks eat fish, squid, octopus, crabs, and stingrays.
Range
Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
Habitat
Coastal waters, reefs, lagoons, and open ocean.
Behavior
Some species swim alone, while others form large schools. They often migrate long distances.
Reproduction
Hammerhead sharks give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Females can give birth to 6 to 50 pups, depending on the species.
Gestation Period
The gestation period is usually 8 to 12 months.
Predators
Larger sharks, orcas
Life Span
20 to 30 years in the wild.
Conservation Status
Many hammerhead species are threatened because of overfishing and habitat loss.
Interesting Facts
- Their wide head is called a cephalofoil.
- They have excellent 360-degree vision.
- Hammerheads can detect tiny electrical signals from prey.
- Scalloped Hammerheads often swim in large schools.
- Great Hammerheads are the largest hammerhead species.
