The common hammerhead shark belongs to the family of hammerhead sharks of the order Carchariformes, class of cartilaginous fish - like the rest of its relatives. It was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, a famous naturalist from Sweden. It is also called the smooth hammerhead shark or the common hammerfish.
Smooth - because it does not have a depression in the outer edge of the “hammer”, characteristic of other types, due to which it is shaped like a bow. Currently, eight species of hammerhead sharks are known to science, these are the hammerfish - roundhead, West African, Panamo-Caribbean, bronze and smallhead, as well as hammerhead sharks - giant, smalleye giant and common.
The basking hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran is found in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, but does not reach large numbers, reaching a length of six meters.
Small-eyed giant shark Scalloped Hammerhead are found in the Eastern and Western Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, its length does not exceed 4.5 meters. The common hammerhead shark is similar to the giant shark in almost every way except its length.
Of the entire family, this species has the widest habitat - it can be found in almost all oceans, except the Arctic Ocean and waters tropical zone. It is difficult to determine the exact boundaries of the hammerhead shark’s habitat due to its strong similarity to other species of hammerhead sharks.
As a rule, it stays closer to the surface at a depth of less than twenty meters - but there have been recorded cases of encountering it at depths of up to 200m. This species prefers coastal waters, but it can also be found in the open ocean, and even sometimes in fresh waters of rivers.
In summer, the hammerhead shark migrates to the poles, where it is cooler, and in winter it returns to the equator.
This is the second largest hammerhead shark - in first place giant hammerhead shark. Length common shark- the hammer is within 3.5 m. The largest length of this species encountered by people is 5 m, and its weight is 400 kg.
It is distinguished from other hammerhead sharks by the shape of its head - its “hammer” is curved along the front edge, and there is no notch in the center; it is quite wide and short, making up about 29% of the body length in diameter.
The “hammer” is actually its large and flat nose, on which the nostrils are located - closer to the edges of the “hammer”, long grooves go from them along the entire edge right to the center - they help the hammerhead fish to catch odors. Scientists believe that the shark uses this “hammer” as a rudder.
Its eyes are located on the sides of the “hammer”; they are large, golden-yellow and protected by eyelids. Five small gill slits, the last located above the pectoral fin.
There are up to 32 rows of teeth in the upper jaw and up to 30 rows of teeth in the lower jaw. The teeth are triangular in shape, beveled towards the corners of the mouth. The shark's body is streamlined, the body is covered with placoid scales with sharp edges, like most sharks. The skin color is dark brown or olive, the belly is white.
The tips of the fins may be darker. The pectoral fins and the first dorsal fin have a strongly pointed shape. There are two dorsal fins in total - the large triangular first dorsal fin is located immediately behind the pectoral fin, and the second dorsal fin is relatively small and has a sharp, seemingly elongated posterior edge.
Anal fin slightly larger than the second dorsal fin. The triangular pectoral fins are 2/3 the length of the hammerhead shark's head. Her body is slender, spindle-shaped and very flexible. The hammerhead shark is an excellent swimmer; it can reach considerable speed and maneuvers well.
As a rule, the common hammerhead shark lives alone or in small schools. During migration, they can gather in large numbers - up to hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Their young are preyed upon by larger sharks, for example, the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus. And in New Zealand waters, adults can become the target of attack by a pod of killer whales.
The hammerhead fish, or common hammerhead shark, is a very active predator. Its diet is very diverse - stingrays, bony fish and sharks, even relatives, and at worst cephalopods, crabs and shrimp. Flounder and stingrays are her favorite delicacy, which is why she prefers muddy bottoms most of all.
Its prey will not be saved by burying itself in the silt - after all, with its unusual head, the hammerhead shark detects the electric fields that its victims generate - sometimes it rushes onto the seemingly empty ground and triumphantly pulls out its prey.
Even stingray scans do not scare her; many of their poisonous spines are found in the stomachs of hammerhead sharks. Most likely, the common hammerhead shark has a strong immunity to the venom of stingrays, which allows it to eat them without hindrance. She is also not afraid of her relatives and larger sharks, and on occasion she will eat them too.
The hammerhead shark is viviparous; its litter can contain 20 or more sharks. Pregnancy lasts up to 11 months, newborns can be up to 61cm long. Embryos are connected to the mother's body through the placenta. Females become sexually mature when they reach a length of 2.7 meters, and males - 2.1-2.5 meters.
The lifespan of the common hammerhead shark is 20 years. This is one of the oldest fish on the planet; according to scientists, this species has existed for about 25 million years. It outnumbers many other species of hammerhead sharks. She looks terrifying. Everyone who saw her considers her the most scary fish in the ocean. Its description can be found on the pages of Jules Verne's novels.
This shark is potentially dangerous to humans, among the most dangerous predators it ranks third - after white and tiger sharks. Cases of hammerhead shark attacks on humans have been recorded, some with fatal consequences, and a human torso was found in the stomach of one of them. As a rule, cases of attacks become more frequent during the breeding season, because for this it goes into coastal waters, so beloved by swimmers, and popular beach places.
Therefore, you should never enter the water unless the beach is fenced with anti-shark nets. Another reason for shark aggression may be hunger - if suddenly its favorite food disappears in its usual habitat, it may well replace it with a human.
With the end of the breeding season, cases of hammerhead shark attacks on humans become extremely rare. In short, you need to try really hard to get a hammerhead shark to attack you. However, experts believe that any shark longer than a meter poses a danger to humans.
Sharks can smell blood in water even in the smallest concentration. According to official statistics, from 40 to 300 people die annually from attacks by all large sharks. It is impossible to say exactly what proportion of this number are killed by the common hammerhead shark.
If suddenly, while at depth, you find a hammerhead shark nearby, try not to move, flounder or wave your arms and legs so as not to attract its attention - wait for help or swim slowly into the coastal waters. Try not to touch the shark's body - you can easily get hurt by the scales covering its skin, and then it will definitely show interest in you, smelling your blood. Be as careful as possible - then you will have a pretty good chance of staying alive.
But the common hammerhead shark itself is also an object of industrial fishing around the world for humans. Shark meat is dried, smoked and salted, but it is little valued, and there are cases of poisoning. But its fins take the number one place in the ranking for making shark fin soup.
Therefore, most often the hunt for hammerhead sharks is barbaric in nature - they are caught, their fins are cut off and thrown back into the water to die. Shark oil is added to vitamins, the skin is tanned, and the by-products are suitable for the production of fishmeal. Hammerhead shark is widely used to make all kinds of medicines in Chinese medicine.
According to the classification of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this species of hammerhead shark is “vulnerable”, and it is listed with this status in the Red Book. In many countries, catching these fish for the purpose of obtaining fins has already been prohibited, and in New Zealand, hunting for them is completely prohibited.
The world that is close to us, but difficult to study and observe, is undersea world. Despite the fact that it is very close, it has been studied less than the surface of Mars. Nevertheless, people are interested in the unusual, and sometimes mysterious, inhabitants of this kingdom. Even toy manufacturers are stirring up this interest: for example, the giant hammerhead shark CO.MAXI, released not long ago by DeAgostini, makes children wonder what kind of creature this is, how it lives and how dangerous it is.
Description
The body of this fish is similar to that of its relatives, except for the unique shape of the skull. The basking hammerhead shark is the most... major representative not only of the hammerhead family, but also one of the largest sharks in general. Apart from the Arctic, these fish can be found in all oceans. This predator often appears even off the rather cold shores of the Primorsky Territory of Russia - in the summer they are frequent guests in the Sea of Japan.
It is noticeably different from its relatives in the unique structure of the skull - on the head of the fish there is a growth in the shape of a regular rectangle. Its span is 25-27% of the entire body, while the anterior edge is curved very slightly. This shark's mouth is shaped like a strongly curved sickle. The teeth are quite small, triangular, their edges are jagged. There are 17 rows of teeth in the upper jaw of a shark, and 16-17 in the lower jaw.
All shark fins are shaped like a sickle. The largest is the anterior dorsal one. Distinctive feature of young individuals is the dark corner of the posterior dorsal fin. The trailing edge of all fins has significant curvature.
The body is unevenly colored: dark brown, gray and olive on the back, very light, almost white, on the belly. No spots or patterns were observed on any individual.
The giant hammerhead shark, the description of which can kill the desire to frolic in the ocean waves, has such a name for a reason. The average body length is 4-5 meters. However, there were also much more large specimens. It is not uncommon for fish to be about 6 meters long, but the largest shark caught was 7.89 m long. The weight of the most impressive individuals can exceed 500 kg. Heaviest weight was recorded in a female pregnant with fifty-five cubs - 580 kg.
Habitat
The giant hammerhead shark does not have a clear habitat - it likes to travel to different regions. You can see it both in the island and shelf zones of the seas and oceans. It is found both in temperate latitudes and in tropical latitudes.
The Atlantic Ocean is “mastered” by sharks from Uruguay to North Carolina, from Senegal to Morocco. Fish swim into the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, into the Gulf of Mexico.
In the Pacific and Indian oceans, the giant hammerhead shark is found almost everywhere: both off the coast of Australia and off Polynesia. You can meet it from Peru to Southern California.
There is information, but it is not documented, that individual specimens were caught off the coast of Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The shark prefers to spend time in coastal areas, hunting in the water column from the surface to at least 80 meters deep. Prefers to live in lagoons and coral reefs. It may choose a cozy place on the slopes of the islands or look for deep-sea places near the shore.
It has been noted that sharks are subject to seasonal migrations: warm time years are sent to higher latitudes.
Nutrition
The giant hammerhead shark, like any other representative of this species of fish, is a predator. It feeds mostly on bony fish, crustaceans, reef (and if you're lucky, even larger) sharks, and stingrays. Loves very much seahorses and poisonous stingrays. The spines of stingrays do not interfere with the predator at all - there are known cases when hundreds of these tools were stuck in the belly of a caught individual. Sometimes attacks marine mammals. There are known cases of attacks on people.
Behavior
For the most part, hammerhead sharks are loners. For hunting they use electrosensory senses, smell and binocular vision.
Reproduction
The giant hammerhead shark, a photo of which can make you give up diving, produces offspring every two years. The gestation period of embryos is 11 months. One litter can contain from 6 to 55 cubs, but such a number is rare. On average, fish bring from 20 to 40 fry. The length of newborns is 50-70 cm.
Unlike other sharks, these sharks prefer to mate near the surface of the water. Puberty occurs when the female grows to 2.5-3 meters. Males only need to reach 2.3-2.7 meters in length.
These fish live on average 20-30 years, but there are also those whose life lasts more than half a century.
Danger
In the ranking of the most dangerous creatures for humans, this fish is in the top ten (among ocean inhabitants). However, in reality, shark attacks do not occur very often. Divers who met her in the water claim that most often she does not show aggression, but only curiosity. However, you shouldn’t rely too much on this when you sink to the bottom. More than one is known per person.
The main reason for the rarity of cannibalism among these sharks is its infrequent occurrence in densely populated areas. The most cases of attacks were recorded in the Philippines, Hawaii and the Florida Islands - it is in these areas that most hammerhead sharks prefer to breed.
Fishing
Despite the high danger of this fish for humans, the latter poses a much greater danger to the entire species. High taste qualities shark fins have led to active fishing for this fish. They are especially fond of it in Asian countries - in these regions fish are being destroyed at a gigantic rate. Currently, its numbers are very small and continue to decline. These days, the hammerhead shark is endangered. It is for this reason that it was listed in the International Red Book. Which, however, does not prevent certain groups of people from continuing to engage in its fishing.
One of the most amazing inhabitants of the underwater depths is the hammerhead fish. Although it may seem harmless, in fact this predator poses a danger even to humans.
Family Hammerheads
Scientists know nine species of hammerhead sharks, differing in color, size, head shape and the waters in which they live. This whole family is divided into two genera: Eusphyra and Sphyrna. In the first group there is only one representative - the wing-headed shark. Her “hammer” is equal in size to almost half of her body, and the width of her head differs from other representatives of this family. There are eight more “sisters” in the second group, the largest of which can reach 6 meters. This entire family is related to felids, mustelids and gray sharks.
Appearance
Many people are attracted by the way the hammerhead fish looks. The body of the predator is practically no different from the shark we are used to. It has a streamlined shape, and the color varies depending on the genus. Basically, the back is dark (gray, brown), and the belly is light. But it is the head that is of particular interest. Its shape is T-shaped. The structure of the head itself depends on the “breed” of the predator; it can be large or, conversely, have small size. But the main thing is that each individual has a unique shape, which is why it is called a hammerhead fish. The photo can be seen below. The eyes are located at the ends of the “processes” of the head. These fish are able to see 360 degrees. It is interesting that in these predators the vision depends on the latitude of the “hammer”. The larger it is, the better the area in front of it is visible.
What does it eat?
The hammerhead is a predator that feeds on other fish, shellfish, skates and crayfish. It is known that these sharks are not afraid even of stingrays, so their diet may include these underwater inhabitants. This fish has a very flexible body, which allows you to make deft maneuvers without giving the victim a chance to break away. In addition, powerful fins give the fish speed. The shape of the head serves as a kind of stabilizer when moving. All these characteristics make the hammerhead shark a winner in fights, even with an opponent that is larger than it. In addition, its agility allows it to attack not only predatory fish, but also mammals.
Although the hammerhead is a fearless hunter, it is a lazy fish. Therefore, some sailors noticed how schools of these sharks followed huge ships for several days, feeding on waste that people threw overboard.
Danger to humans
Looking at the small mouth of a hammerhead shark located at the bottom of its head, you can hardly say that it poses a danger to humans. Of course, this predator does not specifically hunt people, but still it is in third place in the number of attacks on vacationers. The fact is that hammerhead fish become very aggressive during the breeding season, and to breed young they swim to warm waters off the coast. It is in these places that holidaymakers usually relax. In a fight with this creature, a person never remains victorious.
But hammerhead sharks also become victims of people because they are a valuable fishery product. The fins, liver and meat of the predator are highly valued in cooking. These parts are very tasty and are in huge demand. The remains are ground into flour, from which fish products are prepared. In addition, shark skin is no less valuable.
Reproduction
The shape of the head is not the only thing that attracts hammerhead fish. The description of how these predators reproduce is also surprising. They are viviparous, while other fish spawn. Mothers carry their young in much the same way as mammals. At birth, the baby’s “hammer” is turned towards the body in order to be born without difficulty. Gradually, the head of the fish becomes like that of adults.
At one time, a mother can bring from 15 to 30 babies, who are already “taught” to swim well. The length of each reaches approximately half a meter. But after a few months they become one meter tall and show aggression, like all adults.
Habitats
These sharks prefer to be in temperate and warm waters Oh. They can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. While the fish is still young, it stays in shallow water or at the bottom of bays. In these places it is easier for them to acquire the skill of a hunter. Growing up, they go deep-sea diving.
Well, this, by the way,
Fish from a working family!
Just give the fish a reason
With tool hammerhead fish.
Vitaly Sibirtsev
This children's rhyme perfectly describes an interesting representative of the sea kingdom. What is this?
Hammerfish head
Let's find out more. Of course, the most interesting and unusual thing that characterizes the hammerhead fish is its head. Why is her head so weird? Many scientists believed that this fish acquired the hammer-shaped head shape in the process of evolution, over millions of years. With each generation, the shape of the head expanded by a tiny distance, and now the hammerhead fish we know appeared.
But now the opinion of scientists has changed. They believe that the hammer appeared through the process of mutation. But how can that be? Freaks sometimes appear in nature, but they almost never survive. It turns out that the first mutant shark survived, and despite dying due to a terribly deformed head and the inability to hunt using vision, it had to adapt to life and develop other organs.
What is she like? hammerhead fish? Its length is 3 meters, although there are fish that can reach a length of about 6 meters. The largest hammerhead fish ever caught off the coast of New Zealand weighed more than 363 kg.
Yes, this fish is impressive in size. And also her head, on the sides of which there are large outgrowths. All this creates the impression of a large, clumsy fish that is difficult to move. But this is a misleading impression. The hammerhead fish is an excellent hunter, it always achieves its goal, and if it starts hunting, then there is no escape.
How does a hammerhead fish hunt?
What helps her to be a good hunter? The first is her vision. The eyes of this fish are set very far from each other, and it would seem that it sees poorly, but this is not so. Her vision is good, and she is capable of seeing all 360 degrees. So hammerhead fish can see prey not only in front of it, but also below it, it is able to catch the slightest movements of prey around it.
But that's not all, she can see an object with both eyes at the same time, that is, she has binocular vision. This means that a three-dimensional image is created, or this type of vision is also called stereoscopic. And the wider the head of hammerhead sharks, the larger the area where you can see an object with both eyes at once.
Another feature of a good hunter is that this fish is able to pick up electromagnetic pulses that are emitted by any Living being. Hammerhead fish can detect electrical discharges of one millionth of a volt. Indeed, why does she need vision if she is able to “see” prey under a layer of sand, under a stone or in algae. These receptors (tiny pores) are located under the chin of the hammerhead fish. And therefore, when she is looking for prey, her head resembles a mine detector in the hands of a miner. Having caught the electromagnetic radiation that comes from the prey, the hammerhead fish rushes to the prey.
She has powerful fins and strong muscles, which help to develop enormous speed. And the hammer-shaped head becomes a movement stabilizer, leaving the prey no chance of escape.
How to eat
These fish feed on crayfish and mollusks, and stingrays are often found in their stomachs. The hammerhead fish does not have any direct enemies and this allows it to attack any fish and mammals depths of the sea. The cunning, dexterity and strength of this fish is often the key to victory over an opponent more impressive than it. 
It is also dangerous for humans; it ranks third in danger after white and tiger sharks. Of course, as always, the person himself provokes this predator. Unusual appearance and big sizes hammerhead fish attract curious divers who are not averse to having fun with unusual fish, which is fraught with big trouble. The mouth of this fish is studded with small but sharp teeth, and if you meet one, it is luck to stay alive.
How does it reproduce
Viviparous fish. This is interesting, why? After all, most fish are oviparous. Apparently they have a different strategy. When their babies are born (females produce between 15 and 30 babies), they are already 50 centimeters long and are good swimmers. And this is necessary, since there are many predators, and the faster the offspring moves, the greater the chance of survival.
Where does it live?
Hammerhead habitats are warm and temperate waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Young sharks live at the bottom of bays, in shallow waters, where they learn to hunt. In shallow water, the skin quickly darkens, and the hammerhead shark tans.
This is the only animal, naturally, other than humans, that is capable of sunbathing!
This animal belongs to the class of cartilaginous fish and is part of the order Carchariformes. The family to which the hammerhead fish belongs is called hammerhead sharks.
Marine fauna – mysterious world. More and more often, he reveals his secrets to us, revealing strange animals to the world, many of which are dangerous to humans. One of these creatures can be called a shark. There are many varieties of these fish, some of them have the most bizarre shapes. For example, hammerhead fish.
Hypotheses about the origin of the head shape of predatory fish are very different. Some scientists suggest that this is the result of a mutation that once occurred in an ordinary shark, which subsequently gave birth to offspring. And some consider the formation of a hammerhead to be a consequence of evolution.
What is the appearance of the hammerhead shark and how does it differ from other fish?
The main “highlight” in the appearance of this fish is undoubtedly its head, or, more precisely, its shape. The front part ends in long and narrow projections diverging horizontally to the sides. This whole “structure” resembles a construction tool – a hammer. Hence the name of the animal.
The body length of the hammerhead fish reaches three meters, but there are specimens that grow up to 6 meters! Such a giant representative of this species was once caught in New Zealand. That shark weighed more than 360 kilograms!
The color of hammerhead fish is, in most cases, grayish-brown or gray. The abdominal part of the animal's body differs from the back in a slightly lighter tone.
Hammerhead fish habitats on planet Earth
The hammerhead shark is a resident of temperate and warm waters. Its populations inhabit the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Hammerhead shark lifestyle
An amazing fact about this fish was recently discovered by scientists. It turns out that while in shallow water, mainly for young animals, the sun affects the shark’s skin, and it begins to darken... Researchers called this phenomenon the tanning effect. Who would have thought that sea animals also love to sunbathe!
As for other habits of the animal, it can be noted that these sharks have excellent vision. Despite the fact that the eyes on the muzzle are not so close to each other, this does not deprive their owner of vigilance, but on the contrary, it adds it. This natural “device” helps the hammerhead fish to see prey not only in front of itself, but also to perfectly capture the slightest movement from the sides. The shark sees all objects with both eyes at once.
The hammerhead fish has very powerful muscles and strong fins, which allow it to develop high speeds and instantly overtake prey. And the massive head serves as a kind of stabilizer of movement and helps the animal maneuver in the water column.
Hammerhead shark feeding
The daily diet of this predator of ocean waters includes crayfish, stingrays and a variety of mollusks.
Reproduction of hammerhead fish
During the spawning period, these fish lay eggs that contain embryos - the embryos of future sharks. It is worth noting that before laying eggs, female sharks carry eggs inside themselves for almost 8 months. In mid-spring, young sharks are born. The size of the young is from 32 to 45 centimeters in length. When juvenile hammerhead sharks reach a height of 110 centimeters, they become sexually mature.
Hand feeding a shark is a very dangerous activity. Natural enemies of hammerhead fish
Due to its size, powerful jaws, and overall creepy appearance, this predator has no direct enemies in its habitat. It is unlikely that any of the underwater animals will dare to attack such a monster. It is not recommended for people to approach this insidious creature.