This unusual creature appeared about 40 million years ago. years ago. They live in warm subtropical ocean waters, often appearing in the coastal zone.

Appearance and lifestyle

Reaches maximum length the body is 7 meters, and the weight reaches a ton. Strong streamlined and flexible body allows her to swim quickly and quietly. She performs sharp turns at high speed.

She has a large dorsal fin, i.e. pretty high. The upper body is gray, the belly is white, the tips of the fins are dark gray. What is most striking is the shape of this unusual head, which is flattened and strongly elongated on the sides.

No less surprising are the bulging yellow eyes that are located on the sides of the wonderful head. Her eyes are protected by moving eyelids. Here, on the sides, not far from the eyes, there are nostrils. She does not see what is happening ahead, often turns her head and relies on her senses of smell.

But why does a fish have such a strange head? There is still no exact answer to this question; there are only hypotheses and assumptions. Researchers have found that its face has many electrosensory areas, more than other sharks.

They help to capture the exact location of prey, both over long distances and in narrow areas. For example, if a stingray is hiding in the bottom sand, she can easily determine its location. He will have no chance of salvation.


The predator's mouth is located below, under the snout, and its eyes are “well hidden”, therefore, having grabbed a stingray, it is not afraid of blows from the defending victim with its spiked tail. After all, he won’t hurt the predator, he just won’t reach the vulnerable spots.

Her teeth are saw-toothed and sharp, growing in several rows. It will bite, it will bite. Unlike many other species, hammerhead sharks are social and they often gather in schools. Serve to each other various signs movements of the head and body.

Nutrition

The hammerhead shark feeds on fish, sharks, and other sharks. At night they hunt alone, and during the day they gather in packs. In shallow waters, it can become tanned and its body becomes brownish in color.

It seems like no other animal can get a suntan. It rarely attacks humans. Most likely this happens during the breeding season.

Reproduction

Pregnancy will last about a year. This is a viviparous individual and can give birth to up to 40 sharks. Born cubs are head down, swim quickly, their body length is up to 50 cm. First, the cubs lose weight. They are similar to their parents, only small in size, and the babies' heads are soft and easy to bend.

In shallow water they learn to hunt, acquiring the skills of this difficult task. You also need to be cunning and not get caught by other predators for lunch. The faster they learn to defend themselves, the greater their chances of survival. The growing young generation, having gained strength, leaves the coastal zones.

Lifespan

IN wildlife The hammerhead shark lives about 40 years.

  • Class – Cartilaginous fish
  • Order – Carharhiniformes
  • Family – Hammerhead sharks
  • Genus – Hammerfish
  • Species – Hammerhead Shark

From a huge number sea ​​creatures The hammerhead shark stands out for its unusual shape heads. The awkward head arouses curiosity and the question - where did such growths come from? The amazing “profile” is not consistent with the usual appearance of fast-swimming large fish. At first glance, such a “decoration” is very inconvenient and creates a lot of problems for sharks.

Description

There is little information about the origin of hammerhead sharks. The skeleton of fish consists mainly of cartilage, so specialists mostly only have teeth to study. Externally, if you do not take into account the head, the hammerhead shark looks like an ordinary fish. Large fusiform muscular strong body dark above, with a slightly noticeable greenish tint, light below. The protective coloring helps it blend perfectly with its surroundings.

The flat head has noticeable lateral growths. They have eyes at the edges. The mouth is located at the bottom of the head, the shape of the teeth is triangular. The sizes depend on the species. The smallest are within a meter, the largest can grow up to 6 meters.

The hammerhead shark (the facts confirm this), although extremely rarely, attacks people. Out of nine known species- three pose a real threat. The animal attacks only after provocation from a person. They keep in packs, with average number 10-20 individuals. Group life helps in hunting and defense. Studying the life of predators, biologists have identified 10 signals that they exchange, some of which serve as a warning. The young are vulnerable to killer whales and larger shark species.

They are very agile and can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. Agility and instant reaction help to get food. In nature they can live up to 30 years. The main threat to sharks is people. They are hunted for their fins, often with unjustified cruelty: the fin is cut off and the still living shark is thrown into the sea.

Nutrition

Relatively small size teeth does not allow you to hunt too large prey. The diet of the hammerhead shark (photo in the text) is quite varied:

  • crabs, lobsters;
  • squid, octopus;
  • stingrays;
  • dusky gray and gray mustelid sharks;
  • crucian carp, catfish, cats, croakers and perches, flounder, toad fish, hedgehog fish.

There are known cases of cannibalism. Great hammerhead shark can feed on larger prey. Most of all, they prefer stingrays, not at all afraid of their poisoned thorns. During the day, predators gather in large flocks, and at night they go hunting. In the morning they get together again. The hunting tactics are simple: the shark swims near the very bottom, when it detects prey, it either stuns it with its head, or presses it to the bottom and eats it.

Reproduction

Puberty occurs when a certain length and body weight are reached. Females are slightly larger than males. Mating occurs closer to the surface, with the male able to sink his teeth into his partner. The gestation period is 10-11 months. Childbirth in the northern hemisphere occurs in late spring - early summer, on the Australian continent - in December-January. An interesting fact is that in cubs the hammer is directed along the body, which helps to avoid injuries during childbirth. When it gets into “free” water, it immediately becomes in a position familiar to adults. Small coastal bays serve as “maternity hospitals”; they usually have a lot of food.

The hammerhead shark (photo of the school in the text) is viviparous. Litter size ranges from 10 to 40 young. The number of babies directly depends on the size of the mother. Some species can produce offspring annually, but basking hammerhead sharks produce offspring once every two years. The young are born quite large, from 50 cm in length, capable of swimming quickly. For some time, the baby sharks stay close to their mother, receiving protection and the necessary survival experience.

Habitats

Different types Hammerhead sharks are common in warm temperate and tropical waters:

They can be found in the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, in the Gulf of Mexico. Predators prefer to stay near coral reefs, lagoons, and continental plumes. They feel comfortable not only in shallow water, but also at a depth of up to 80 meters. Some species are subject to seasonal migration. Schools and individuals can be found in the coastal strip and in the open ocean. Hammerhead sharks have been spotted offshore:

  • from North Carolina to Uruguay;
  • from California to Peru;
  • from Morocco to Senegal;
  • from Australia to the Ryukyu Islands and French Polynesia;
  • Gambia;
  • Guinea;
  • Mauritania;
  • Sierra Leone.

The maximum concentration of predators was recorded near the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology is known throughout the world for its scientific research related to these sharks.

Kinds

These predators belong to the order Carchariformes from the family of hammerhead sharks. The family includes two genera:

1. The genus roundhead hammerhead shark includes only one species - the roundhead (big-headed) hammerhead fish. The average size is 1.2-1.4 meters (maximum 185 cm). The T-shaped growth can reach 50% of the body length. The outgrowths are narrow, they are crowned with rather large eyes. The distance between the elongated large nostrils is twice the width of the sickle-shaped mouth, equipped with medium-sized teeth.

2. The genus of true hammerhead sharks is divided into species:

  • Bronze. The average body length is within 2.5 meters (maximum - 346 cm). A rather large streamlined body, on the upper side it has a dark gray, grayish-brown or olive color, smoothly turning into gray-white on the belly. The hammer on the leading edge is “decorated” with numerous notches, the trailing edge is somewhat concave.
  • Giant hammerhead shark. Individual individuals grow up to 6 meters, weigh more than half a ton, the average length is up to 3.5 m. The hammer span is within 30% of the body length, the shape is almost a regular quadrangle, especially noticeable in adult sharks. The crescent-shaped curved mouth is equipped with not very large triangular teeth. They have a serrated edge. There are 17 teeth on the upper jaw and 16-17 teeth on the lower jaw.
  • West African (white-finned). Rare and little-studied species. It is found along the western coast of the African continent from Congo to Senegal. The average size of females is up to 2.4 meters, males - up to 1.8 m, and there are individuals up to 3 meters long. The hammer swing is within 25% of the body length.
  • Roundhead. The smallest representative of the genus, length does not exceed 1 meter. It differs from other types by the oval leading edge and straight trailing edge of the hammer.
  • Small-eyed (golden). Small, up to 130 cm (record -148 cm) long, distinguished by a golden tint. Small eyes are located on the end ends of the hammer. Its width does not exceed 30% of the length of the body. The sickle-shaped mouth is equipped with thin front and wider lateral teeth with blunted tops. There are 15-17 of them on each jaw.

  • Smallhead (shovel shark). This species has the smallest head, the hammer looks more like a shovel. Average length within 120 cm. Shy, comfortable temperature water not less than +20 °C.
  • Ordinary. The average size is 2.5-3.5 meters, large individuals can grow up to 5 meters. The hammer in the front part is convex and quite wide. The narrow sickle-shaped mouth is “armed” with small, triangular teeth jagged at the edges. There are slightly more of them on the upper jaw - up to 32 pieces, on the lower jaw - up to 30.
  • Panamo-Caribbean. Small representatives of the genus, average size up to a meter. The front edge of the hammer is arched, convex, the rear edge is straight. The width of the head is up to 23% of the body length; in young animals it can be up to 33%.

All of the above species differ in size, color, head shape, and habitat. There are only three of them to be wary of: bronze, giant and ordinary.

Gigantic

Because of the large fins giant shark- the hammer is mercilessly caught. This species is listed in the International Red Book as endangered. In Asian markets, high-priced predator fins are the basis for the famous “shark fin soup.”

The main differences between giants and their relatives:

  • the front edge of the hammer is almost flat without bending, which gives the head a rectangular shape;
  • in size it exceeds all types;
  • They bear offspring once every two years; the litter ranges from 6 to 55 babies;
  • life expectancy can reach 50 years.

Hammer

The hammerhead shark is an excellent hunter. The hammer helps her masterfully find prey. Its outgrowths are covered with skin strewn with extremely sensitive nerve receptors. They are able to detect even the slightest fluctuations in temperature and water. A shark can detect an electrical impulse of one millionth of a volt. Like a real “mine detector,” sharks comb the bottom and unmistakably find stingrays in the sand.

The eyes located at the ends of the “wings” allow you to simultaneously monitor the situation 360° from above and below simultaneously. Only under their very nose they are unable to see anything. Constantly moving your head from side to side eliminates this inconvenience. The main assistants in hunting are electromagnetic (sensory) receptors; they help to detect the electric field of even the smallest prey.

This is interesting

Not long ago, a new (as some scientists believe) species of hammerhead shark was discovered. Interesting Facts about special DNA, a different number of vertebrae (170, not the usual 190), genetics - all indicate that it “diverged” from the bronze shark about 4.5 million years ago. Now the question is about recognizing the new species and clarifying the status of the bronze hammerhead shark.

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.

The small-eyed basking shark Scalloped Hammerhead is 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.

It is the second largest hammerhead shark - the basking hammerhead comes first. The length of an ordinary hammerhead shark 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 hammerhead shark has a special head shape - widened and flattened, similar to a hammer, which is why it got its name.

There are 9 species of these sharks in total. The size of the hammerhead shark reaches 0.9-6 meters, and the weight ranges from 3 to 580 kilograms. Despite the complex and rather strange shape of the head, the shark’s body is completely streamlined, thanks to which it is capable of developing high speeds.

The hammerhead shark is found in the tropical coasts of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the open ocean, the shark can rarely be found; it mainly stays at a depth of no more than 400 meters. Although such a depth is quite far from the shore, it is not so deep that vacationers should not be afraid of this predator, because the hammerhead, like any shark, instinctively attacks all living things. Only 4 out of 9 species of hammerhead sharks are dangerous to humans.

Appearance


The hammerhead shark uses a simple hunting tactic - it swims along the bottom, and when it notices the prey, it presses it to the bottom or crushes it with its head, after which it eats it.

Oceans and seas have always attracted man, revealing unknown depths, many secrets and mysteries. And to this day, despite numerous scientific expeditions and the colossal work of oceanographers, the depths of the “big water” still hide many secrets under the veil of secrecy. The hammerhead shark deserves special attention, which can rightfully be called one of the most ferocious and merciless predators depths of the sea. The study of this predator has revealed many amazing things and frightening facts that are unique to this hunter.
Hammerhead sharks (lat. Sphyrnidae) are a fast, cunning and extremely resourceful predator that is not afraid of almost anything and easily attacks humans. On the “danger pedestal,” the hammerhead shark ranks third, behind only the white and tiger sharks. History contains many exciting facts that are associated with hammerhead fish. For example, in one of these sharks caught, the corpse of a man was discovered, which entirely fit into the belly of this merciless killer.
Its usual habitat is warm waters, however, this does not prevent the shark from feeling quite comfortable in cool northern waters. Possessing a body length of 4 to 7 meters, the hammerfish is “armed” with the amazing abilities of an unsurpassed predator, which are reflected in the structure of its strong and incredibly flexible body. Evolution, which has been perfecting this shark for more than two tens of millions of years, has endowed it with everything it needs. Ultra-strong, razor-sharp teeth, which are arranged in several rows, and are capable of literally tearing apart any victim in a matter of seconds. The natural camouflage coloring of the body makes it practically invisible in the water column.
Powerful fins and strong muscles allow you to develop tremendous speed. Unparalleled sensory organs are capable of finding prey many kilometers away, perceiving electromagnetic signals, sensing blood and even the fear of their prey. And the shark’s head itself, which is shaped like a hammer, gives the predator phenomenal maneuverability, becoming a movement stabilizer and leaving virtually no chance for the prey to escape.
All this suggests that if a hammerhead fish has chosen a target, then there is little that can save that target. The weight of a hammerhead shark can reach several hundred kilograms, and the largest specimen caught weighed 363 kilograms, with a length of almost 8 meters.
The hammerhead fish is at the top of the food chain, without any direct enemies. This allows her to attack any fish and mammals that live in the area without much risk. sea ​​waters. The cunning, strength and dexterity of this predator are very often the key to victory over an opponent larger than itself. The hammerhead shark, like its closest relatives - other sharks, does not have an air bubble in the structure of its body. To maintain its buoyancy, it has to constantly move, which means looking for prey and always being “alert.” It is almost impossible to take this shark by surprise. She always imposes her terms of the “game” on the victim and always turns out to be the winner.