Sphyrna

Common Names

The genus Sphyrna encompasses nine distinct species, each with its own common name:

• Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
• Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)
• Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)
• Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)
• Winghead Shark (Sphyrna corona)
• Scoophead Shark (Sphyrna media)
• Smalleye Hammerhead (Sphyrna tudes)
• Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
• Whitefin Hammerhead (Sphyrna couardi)

Characteristics

Hammerhead sharks are readily identifiable by their distinctive hammer-shaped heads, also known as cephalofoils. This unique morphology is thought to provide a number of advantages:

• Enhanced Sensory Capabilities: The cephalofoils house a large number of ampullae of Lorenzini, specialized sensory organs that detect weak electrical fields generated by prey. This allows hammerheads to locate and capture buried or camouflaged prey with remarkable accuracy.
• Improved Maneuverability: The wide, flattened head provides a larger surface area for generating lift, allowing hammerheads to make tight turns and navigate complex environments with greater ease.
• Wider Field of Vision: The eyes are positioned at the ends of the cephalofoils, providing a wider field of view and enhancing the shark's ability to detect prey and potential predators.

Environments

Hammerhead sharks are found in a diverse range of marine environments, primarily in tropical and subtropical waters around the globe. They are generally pelagic, meaning they inhabit open ocean waters, but can also be found in coastal areas, estuaries, and even freshwater habitats in some cases. Some species, such as the great hammerhead, are known to undertake long migrations.

References

For further information, see these reliable sources:

• FishBase
• IUCN Red List
• Florida Museum of Natural History