Unique Traits. Their wide-set eyes give them a better visual range than most other sharks. And by spreading their highly specialized sensory organs over their wide, mallet-shaped head, they can more thoroughly scan the ocean for food.
What is special about hammerhead shark?
The species is distinguished from other hammerheads by its nearly straight hammer-shaped head (cephalofoil) that has a prominent indentation in the middle. ... Like other hammerhead species, great hammerhead sharks have long, serrated teeth and use their hammer-shaped heads to detect and eat prey.
What are three interesting facts about hammerhead sharks?
- THERE ARE AT LEAST 10 KNOWN SPECIES ... ...
- 2. ... ...
- IT LOOKS LIKE THEY EVOLVED SOMEWHAT RECENTLY. ...
- THEIR HEADS MAY GIVE THEM A HUNTING EDGE. ...
- GREAT HAMMERHEADS LIKE TO SWIM SIDEWAYS. ...
- ONE SPECIES EATS SEAGRASS. ...
- THE LARGER ONES USE THEIR HEADS TO PIN DOWN STINGRAYS.
Why hammerhead sharks are the best?
Hammerhead sharks are known for their unique head shape and wide-set eyes , which give them a better visual range than most other sharks, but there’s a lot more to learn about these distinctive fish than what you may already know. ... At night, a hammerhead shark usually hunts alone.
What is the difference between a hammerhead shark and a great hammerhead shark?
The great hammerhead can be distinguished from other hammerheads by the shape of its “hammer” (called the “cephalofoil”) , which is wide with an almost straight front margin, and by its tall, sickle-shaped first dorsal fin. ... Although potentially dangerous, the great hammerhead rarely attacks humans.
How many humans have been killed by hammerhead sharks?
Hammerhead sharks rarely ever attack human beings. In fact, humans are more of a threat to the species than the other way around. Only 16 attacks (with no fatalities ) have ever been recorded globally.
Do hammerhead sharks bite humans?
Interactions with Humans
Most hammerhead species are fairly small and are considered harmless to humans. However, the great hammerhead’s enormous size and fierceness make it potentially dangerous , though few attacks have been recorded.
Has anyone been attacked by a hammerhead shark?
According to the International Shark Attack File, humans have been subjects of 17 documented , unprovoked attacks by hammerhead sharks within the genus Sphyrna since 1580 AD. No human fatalities have been recorded.
Are hammerhead sharks intelligent?
“Hammerheads are the most advanced species and they’re also the youngest (on the evolutionary timeline). “They have more sensory adaptations and more neural linkages in the brain which is why they gather socially, unlike other sharks. They’re kind of like chimpanzees of the shark world.
Can hammerhead sharks see 360?
The hammerhead species even have visual fields that overlap behind them, giving them a full 360 degree view of the world . ... Despite over 50 years of argument, this is the first study to actually do some measurements with real sharks, and it shows that their binocular vision is indeed improved by their odd heads.
Why are hammerhead sharks so weird?
Hammerhead sharks are voracious predators and their mallet-shaped heads boost their ability to find that which they like to eat. The wide expanse of head allows for a broader spread of highly specialized sensory organs that they use to find food. And beyond smell and vision, these sensory organs are rather high-tech.
Is it safe to swim with hammerhead sharks?
Hammerheads can grow to 20 feet long, they’re easily spooked, and they tend to swim in large schools. And, yet, divers still seek them out, without the safety of a cage . ... Assuming you have plenty of dives under your belt, hammerhead encounters shouldn’t rattle you too much.
What is the most aggressive shark?
Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.
Would a hammerhead shark eat a human?
Attacks on humans are extremely rare . Only 3 of the 9 Hammerhead species (Great, Scalloped, and Smooth Hammerheads) have ever attacked a human. The vast majority of the time, these sharks are safe for divers in open waters.
What is the rarest hammerhead shark?
Scalloped Bonnethead : The Scalloped Bonnethead is probably the rarest of the Hammerhead Shark species. They are found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Western Hemisphere and often hunt in mangroves and estuaries.
How do you identify a hammerhead shark?
Another distinctive feature of hammerheads is their large and tall dorsal fins, and elongated upper portion of the caudal (tail) fin. The unique scalloped head along with the diagnostic dorsal fin and tail make these sharks unmistakable in identification.
