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The hammerhead shark, scientifically known as Sphyrnidae, is one of the most iconic species in the seas due to the peculiar shape of its head that resembles a hammer. This characteristic not only gives it its name, but is also essential for many of its predatory abilities. Despite being well known in popular culture for its distinctive appearance, the hammerhead shark is a species that is threatened due to indiscriminate fishing, especially for its value on the black market. In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about the characteristics of the hammerhead shark, its habitat, diet and reproduction.
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Key features
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The hammerhead shark is a family of sharks that is made up of nine different species. Among the most notable are the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna wet) and the common hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini). The size of the species can vary considerably, from 1 meter in the smallest to 6 meters in the giant hammerhead shark.
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What stands out most about this shark is its T-shaped head, also known as a "cephalophil." This head offers them significant advantages, such as a wide 360 degree view, allowing them to detect prey both above and below them. They also have protuberances that house the eyes and nostrils, giving them a sensory advantage, such as detecting electrical stimuli through structures called ampullae of LorenziniThis ability allows them to detect prey buried in the sand on the seabed.
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Their skin colour varies between light grey and olive green, with a lighter ventral part that helps them camouflage themselves with the seabed when seen from above. They have two dorsal fins, the first being much larger than the second, and a tail with a considerably developed caudal fin.
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Hammerhead Shark Description
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The hammerhead shark is not only distinguished by its peculiar head, but also by its body structure. It has a long snout which helps it track its prey more efficiently and have greater agility while swimming. As for its teeth, these are serrated and arranged in several rows, helping it to tear its prey with ease.
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Su Size varies from 0,9 meters to 6 meters In the largest specimens, their weight can range between 300 and 580 kilos. The largest hammerhead sharks, such as the Sphyrna wet, can weigh up to 450 kilos, although this is not usual. Young sharks are usually born with a much more rounded and soft head, which makes it easier for them to be born from the mother's womb, but as they get older, the head develops until it takes on the characteristic shape of a hammer.
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Hammerhead shark habitat
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The hammerhead shark lives in temperate and tropical waters in all the world's oceans. It prefers to live near the coasts and in coral reef areas, as these areas are rich in food. They are animals that need a stable environment in terms of temperature and salinity, which is why they are usually found in waters that do not exceed 80 meters in depth, although some specimens have been recorded at greater depths.
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The areas of greatest concentration of hammerhead sharks include the coasts of Central and South America, especially in the Galapagos Islands and Costa RicaSome species migrate to colder waters during the summer, such as the great hammerhead shark, which moves from the coast of Florida to the Atlantic. In addition, some are found in brackish waters, but in smaller numbers.
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Feeding and reproduction
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The hammerhead shark is a carnivore that feeds primarily on bony fish, cephalopods such as squid and octopus, and some crustaceans. However, one of its favorite prey is rays. Using its electrical sensing abilities, it can detect rays hiding in the sand and catch them with precision.
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Although a solitary hunter, hammerhead sharks often gather in large numbers to breed. This species is viviparous, meaning that the young are born alive. Females carry their young in their womb for a gestation period of between 8 and 12 months. They can give birth to 12 to 50 young per litter, depending on the size of the mother. The size of a calf at birth is usually around 18 centimetres, with a more rounded head, which makes birth easier.
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Behavior and threats
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Hammerhead sharks are known to form large groups during the day, although they are solitary hunters at night. These groups, also called schools, can have up to 500 individuals. Within these associations, hammerhead sharks establish social hierarchies based on size, age and sex.
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One of the biggest threats facing this species is intensive fishing, mainly due to the high value of its fins on the black market. Shark fins are a key ingredient in the preparation of shark fin soup, a delicacy in some Asian countries. After the fins are cut off, the sharks are returned to the sea, where they inevitably die due to being unable to swim properly.
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The hammerhead shark is one of the species included in the IUCN Red List endangered. Overfishing and the destruction of their natural habitats have led to a drastic decline in their populations. If immediate measures are not taken to protect this species, we are likely to lose it in the not too distant future.
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The hammerhead shark is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating predators in the ocean. Although they are not aggressive towards humans, it is important to recognize the importance of their conservation and to actively work to prevent this magnificent species from disappearing completely.