The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark has a tapered shape, with light brown, bronze or olive colouring on the dorsal surfaces, fading to white below. Distribution English:           scalloped hammerhead, bronze hammerhead shark, hammerhead, hammerhead shark, kidney-headed shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, and southern hammerhead shark Common Name: Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Scientific Name:Sphyrna lewini. This problem, driven by the high economic value of its fins and the consumption of its meat, has led to the species being overfished during all stages of its lifecycle. [31], In March 2013, three endangered, commercially valuable sharks, the hammerheads, the oceanic whitetip, and porbeagle, were added to Appendix II of CITES, bringing shark fishing and commerce of these species under licensing and regulation. Abundance trend analyses of catch-rate data for the hammerhead complex of Sphyrna lewini, including Sphyrna mokarran and Sphyrna zygaena, have reported large declines, ranging from 60-99% over recent years. Copepods parasitic on sharks from the west coast of Florida. [8] Species Profile of the Scalloped Hammerhead Common Name: Scalloped Hammerhead Scientific Name: Genus: Sphyrna Species: lewini Scientific Classificatio Their eyes are positioned at the ends of this hammer like protrusion. [14] The great hammerhead, tending to be larger and more aggressive than most hammerheads, occasionally engages in cannibalism, eating other hammerhead sharks, including its own young. In Greek, the word Sphyrna means hammer, which describes the most unique feature of hammerheads, the hammer-shaped head. They may swallow it unintentionally, but they are able to partially digest it. Regional capacity building workshop to support progress on the implementation of the Regional Observer Scheme of IOTC (Resolution 11/04): Oman, I.R. A curved hammer with a central notch; the dorsal fins are smaller than those of the great hammerhead. Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine identified species of this shark. They are also known to form schools during the day, sometimes in groups over 100. 2001. Shark fins are prized as a delicacy in certain countries in Asia (such as China), and overfishing is putting many hammerhead sharks at risk of extinction. [32] Nevertheless, at up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and with highly specialized requirements, very few private aquarists have the experience and resources necessary to maintain a bonnethead in captivity. [29], The relatively small bonnethead is regular at public aquariums, as it has proven easier to keep in captivity than the larger hammerhead species,[30][31] and it has been bred at a handful of facilities. A hammerhead shark uses its wide head to trap stingrays by pinning them to the seafloor. Originally known as Zygaena lewini, the name of its genus was later renamed to its current name. [28] This practice, known as finning, is lethal to the shark. Discover How Long Scalloped hammerhead Lives. Learn more, In Memoriam : Bradnee Chambers (1966-2019), Vacancies in the CMS FamilyVacancies in Other OrganizationsInformation about job openings, This site is maintained by the CMS Secretariat © 2020  | DisclaimerCMS Secretariat, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, GermanyTel. (+49 228) 815 2449, World’s First-Ever Best-Practice Guide for Tourism Operators Released by Project AWARE Foundation, The Manta Trust and WWF International. [4] Their heads have lateral projections that give them a hammer-like shape. The results revealed huge declines in the abundance of sharks in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Scalloped hammerhead sharks come from the family of Sphyrnidae and hammerhead shark species. While overall similar, this shape differs somewhat between species; e.g., a distinct T-shape in the great hammerhead, a rounded head with a central notch in the scalloped hammerhead, and an unnotched rounded head in the smooth hammerhead. [2][3] They are usually light gray and have a greenish tint. The height of the second dorsal fin is less than or equal to the length of the third gill slit. (2011). The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark… [33] The larger hammerhead species can reach more than twice that size and are considered difficult, even compared to most other similar-sized sharks (such as Carcharhinus species, lemon shark, and sand tiger shark) regularly kept by public aquariums. The hammerhead sharks are an unmistakable group of sharks that can be distinguished from all other fishes by the shape of their heads. Sharks and Rays at CMS COP 11 - What comes next? Once the baby sharks are born, they are not taken care of by the parents in any way. Usual tooth count 15-2-15 / 15/16-1-15/16. Many, but not necessarily mutually exclusive, functions have been postulated for the cephalofoil, including sensory recepti… Twitter. [31][34] As a consequence, relatively few public aquaria have kept them for long periods. Its name is derived from the notches or "Scallops" that appear along the front edge of the hammer. ", "Husbandry of scalloped hammerhead sharks Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) at Reef HQ Aquarium, Townsville, Australia", "Indigenous knowledge and cultural values of hammerhead sharks in Northern Australia", "Electroreception in juvenile scalloped hammerhead and sandbar sharks", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hammerhead_shark&oldid=1006422439, Wikipedia pending changes protected pages, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Life History: The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini)can be distinguished from other hammerhead species by an indentation located centrally along the … Facts about Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, "Scientific name for Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is Sphyrna lewini". Fossils show that hammerheads might have evolved earlier during the Paleocene. The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks that form the family Sphyrnidae, so named for the unusual and distinctive structure of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a "hammer" shape called a cephalofoil. Carter, G. 1967. The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) is listed as globally endangered on the IUCN’s Red List. These sharks are often found swimming along the bottom of the ocean, stalking their prey. Common names: scalloped hammerhead, bronze hammerhead shark, kidney-headed shark Scientific name: _Sphyrna lewini_ Size: 370 to 420 cm Weight: 150 kg (330 lb) Population: unknown (in decline) Distribution: warm and temperate seas, near continents, islands, and seamounts Issues: overexploitation, unintentional catches (bycatch) IUCN Red List Status: … The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head. Can even occur in river mouths and estuaries. (1990). [17], 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. Hammerhead sharks are (as a group) easily distinguished to other sharks by the hammer like head they have. Given these current fishing pressures, in addition to a lack of management strategies by RFMOs, high rates of Sphyrna lewini captures pose a serious threat to the specie’s survival. 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. [1], The hammer-like shape of the head may have evolved at least in part to enhance the animal's vision. [15], Hammerhead sharks eat a large range of prey such as fish (including other sharks), squid, octopus, and crustaceans. [12] By distributing the receptors over a wider area, like a larger radio antenna, hammerheads can sweep for prey more effectively. "Scalloped Hammerhead Shark" (On-line). [34] Great hammerheads have been kept at a few facilities in North America, including Atlantis Paradise Island Resort (Bahamas), Adventure Aquarium (New Jersey), Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta), Mote Marine Laboratory (Florida), and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas). Many Hawaiian families believe that they have an aumakua watching over them and protecting them from the niuhi. Fishermen who harvest the animals typically cut off the fins and toss the remainder of the fish, which is often still alive, back into the sea. A revision of the hammerhead sharks (Family Sphrynida). Its highly migratory nature, slow growth, and lengthy gestation period place this common bycatch species at risk to fishing practices on the high seas, at oceanic congregation sites, and throughout coastal birth zones. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 38: 1-30. Catalogue of the Genera of Recent Fishes. Tel. Like other sharks, fertilization is internal, with the male transferring sperm to the female through one of two intromittent organs called claspers. Unlike most sharks, some hammerhead species usually swim in schools during the day, becoming solitary hunters at night. (+49 228) 815 2401, Fax. scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). They are very vulnerable to being caught as bycatch by … Eschmeyer, W.N. These baby sharks huddle together and swim toward warmer water until they are old enough and large enough to survive on their own. It can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, although smaller sizes are more common. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California. When fully grown, it gets to 6 meters in length (20ft) and weighs 170 kilograms (600 pounds). Species: Scalloped Hammerhead Scientific Name: Sphyrna lewini Date Tagged: March 17, 2010 Location Tagged: Near Marathon Hump off the coast of Marathon Key, Florida Keys We couldn’t throw them all at you, so decided to choose 21 Ambassador Species to give you valuable insight into their fascinating world… About the Scalloped Hammerhead. As the winghead shark has proportionately the largest "hammer" of the hammerhead sharks, this suggests that the first ancestral hammerhead sharks also had large hammers. These are connected to the exterior via pores in the shark's … Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. – This World Wildlife Day, March 3,Project AWARE®, WWF and The Manta Trust are pleased to release Responsible Shark and Ray Tourism: A Guide to Best Practice, the world’s first-ever guidelines for shark and ray tourism operators. [13], Reproduction occurs only once a year for hammerhead sharks, and usually occurs with the male shark biting the female shark violently until she agrees to mate with him. Most other species only grow to 4 meters (13ft). Other names that have been used for scalloped hammerhead … Given S. lewini’s present situation, one that includes its overutilization, inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, and other natural or manmade threats, inclusion of the species in CMS Appendix II is necessary in order to begin to restore its populations. In native Hawaiian culture, sharks are considered to be gods of the sea, protectors of humans, and cleaners of excessive ocean life. Hammerhead Shark Classification and Scientific Name These sharks are in the class Chondrichthyes, or cartilaginous fishes. Some of these schools can be found near Malpelo Island in Colombia, the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, Cocos Island off Costa Rica, near Molokai in Hawaii, and off southern and eastern Africa. Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Category: Shark . Cressey, R. 1970. The largest of them all is the Great Hammerhead Shark. Iran and Pakistan, Sharks AC1 - 1st Sharks MOU Advisory Committee Meeting, Study: Conservation Priorities for Shark and Ray Species included and proposed for inclusion in Annex 1 to the CMS Sharks MOU, The Conservation Status of Migratory Sharks, Sharks of the Arabian Seas - an identification guide, Palau National Marine Reserve - Shark Conservation, Advisory Committee review of proposals to amend Annex 1 of the MOU, Proposal for the Inclusion of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini) in ANNEX 1 of the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks. Stingrays are a particular favorite. Many, but not necessarily mutually exclusive, functions have been postulated for the cephalofoil, including sensory reception, manoeuvering, and prey manipulation. Spy on your favorite Tiger, Hammerhead, and Bull sharks in our custom-designed Google Earth interactive map. According to DNA studies, the ancestor of the hammerheads probably lived in the Miocene epoch about 20 million years ago. [10][11] The shape of the head was previously thought to help the shark find food, aiding in close-quarters maneuverability, and allowing sharp turning movement without losing stability. The hammerhead shark is thought to be the birth animal of some children. The unusual structure of its vertebrae, though, has been found to be instrumental in making the turns correctly, more often than the shape of its head, though it would also shift and provide lift. Tracking GM. The principal conservation problem facing this species is its population decline. [31] They are particularly vulnerable during transport between facilities, may rub on surfaces in tanks, and may collide with rocks, causing injuries to their heads, so they require very large, specially adapted tanks. But, what comes next? [38], Among Torres Strait Islanders, the hammerhead shark, known as the beizam, is a common family totem and often represented in cultural artefacts such as the elaborate headdresses worn for ceremonial dances, known as dhari or dari. Sharks can detect weak electrical fields using electrical sense organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini. ACAP, CMS, Dugong, IOSEA Marine Turtles, Sharks, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South & Central America & The Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Atlantic, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, South Pacific, South-East Asia, South-West Asia, South-Western Atlantic, West Africa, Western Pacific, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks. They can dive up to 1000m but are mostly found near the surface, between 0 and 25 meters. Some of these sharks are believed to be family members who died and have been reincarnated into shark form, but others are considered man-eaters, also known as niuhi. [40][41], "Record Hammerhead Pregnant With 55 Pups", "Marine Species ID: Great Hammerhead vs. Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead", "Hammerhead shark study shows cascade of evolution affected size, head shape", "Enhanced visual fields in hammerhead sharks", "This Shark Eats Grass, and No One Knows Why", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Eusphyra blochii", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna corona", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna lewini", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60201A12317805.en, "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna mokarran", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna tiburo", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna tudes", "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sphyrna zygaena", "Statistics on Attacking Species of Shark", "Panamanian officials find half ton of shark fins", Sharks Highly respected in Hawaiian Culture, "Babies Of The S.E.A. Etymology Scientific Names Scalloped hammerhead was first described by Griffith and Smith as Zygaena lewini in 1834, then renamed as Sphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith, 1834) and remained using this name. National Geographic explains that hammerheads can be found in warm tropical waters, but during the summer, they participate in a mass migration to search for cooler waters. [14] The hammerhead sharks exhibit a viviparous mode of reproduction with females giving birth to live young. Their unique heads are used as a weapon when hunting down prey. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), also known as the bronze hammerhead, the kidney-headed hammerhead, or the southern hammerhead, is a species of hammerhead shark.It was first known as zygaena lewini, but is now known as Sphyrna lewini.The word Sphyrna is a Greek word meaning "hammer", which refers to the "hammer" or "cephalofoil" on … Scalloped Hammerhead Shark. Probably the most abundant hammerhead species in coastal waters. (+49 228) 815 2449, Contact, This site is maintained by the CMS Secretariat © 2020, CMS Secretariat, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany. The scalloped hammerhead is an endangered pelagic shark found in warm temperate and tropical seas around the world. The young swim mostly in shallow waters along shores all over the world to avoid predators. The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark can be distinguished by their large flattened 'hammer-like' head, with wide set eyes and prominent central scallop-like indentation in the front margin of the head. Sphyrnidae: pictures (3) Genus Sphyrna. The developing embryos are at first sustained by a yolk sac. The hammerhead shark, also known as mano kihikihi, is not considered a man-eater or niuhi; it is considered to be one of the most respected sharks of the ocean, an aumakua.