When people hear the name 'hammerhead,' many people probably picture the very recognizable, Great Hammerhead. What they might be unaware of though, is that the name 'hammerhead' is used in reference for NINE distinct different species of hammerhead sharks! However, the simple chart I've shared below, only shows the head shapes of 6/9 of those species. The three that are missing are: the Scalloped Bonnethead, the Carolina Hammerhead, and the Smalleye Hammerhead. (I will reference those 3 in this post, because if I'm going to talk about 6 of them, why not just go all in and recognize them all?)
Well, what do these species look like in the wild? Glad you asked!! Let me show you! 🦈🫡❤️
1. Great Hammerhead- the biggest species of Hammerhead shark. Distinguishable by it's large dorsal fin. (Adult females: 15-18ft; Adult males: 12ft)
2. Scalloped Hammerhead- Distinguishable by two indentations on either side of the central indentation, which gives the "scalloped" look. (Adult females: 8.2-14ft; Adult males 4.9-5.9ft)
3. Smooth Hammerhead- Distinguishable by the distinctive flattened shape of the head that is laterally extended into a hammer shape, without an indentation in the middle of the front margin (typically measures 8.2-11.5ft)
4. Bonnethead Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a broad, smooth, spade-like head. (Typically measures 2.6-3ft)
5. Scalloped Bonnethead- Smallest of the hammerhead species. Distinguishable by it's mallet-shaped head, that is moderately wide and elongated lengthwise. The front margin is broadly arched, with shallow lateral and medial indentations. (Typically measures 36in.)
6. Winghead Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a pair of long, narrow, and gently swept-back blades. (Typically measures 6.2ft)
7. Scoophead Hammerhead- It is distinguished by its moderately broad, mallet-shaped head (Adult males: 35in.; Adult females 39-52in.)
8. Carolina Hammerhead- visually indistinguishable from the common scalloped hammerhead. The difference in vertebrae, 10 fewer in this species, is the defining morphological difference. (Typically measures 9.8-13.1ft)
9. Smalleye Hammerhead- Distinguishable by a mallet-shaped head that is wide and long. The leading margin forms a broad arch with indentations in the middle and on either side. The eyes, placed at the ends of the 'wings', are proportionately smaller than in other hammerheads (Typically measures 3.9-4.3ft)
UNFORTUNATELY, and quite sadly 😭, most of these species of hammerhead sharks are either Endangered OR Critically Endangered. According to NOAA fisheries, their decline is due commercial fishing and the shark fin trade (which is horrendously still happening in some countries 😭). We MUST do what we can to preserve these beautiful sharks before they disappear from our world!
