Unique Traits of Hammerhead Sharks
Hammerhead sharks are easily recognized by their wide, mallet-shaped heads, which provide a better visual range than most other sharks. Their highly specialized sensory organs, spread across the head, allow them to thoroughly scan the ocean for food.
Ampullae of Lorenzini
One key group of sensory organs is the ampullae of Lorenzini, which lets sharks detect the electrical fields created by prey animals. The hammerhead’s increased ampullae sensitivity helps it locate its favorite meal, stingrays, which often bury themselves under sand.
Population and Appearance
The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine identified hammerhead species. It can reach up to 20 feet in length and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds, though smaller sizes are more common.
Found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, both far offshore and near coastlines, hammerheads are often seen in mass summer migrations seeking cooler water. They are gray-brown to olive-green on top with off-white undersides, have heavily serrated triangular teeth, and extra-tall, pointed dorsal fins that are easily identifiable.
Interactions with Humans
Most hammerhead species are fairly small and generally harmless to humans. However, the great hammerhead’s enormous size and aggressive nature make it potentially dangerous, although few attacks have been recorded.
