Species Profile No. 27: The Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) The smooth hammerhead is the second largest hammerhead species, and can grow up to 16 feet long. They eat rays, smaller sharks, bony fishes, and crustaceans. Smooth hammerheads are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. They have gestation periods of 10-11 months, and give birth to 20-50 pups, but the pups are vulnerable and often eaten by predators. Smooth hammerheads are targeted by fisheries, likely throughout their range, as well as being caught as bycatch. They have highly valuable fins, so they are one of the shark species that fisheries will remove the fins from and discard the rest of the shark. These sharks are included in some finning bans and protection programs, but further research is needed to understand whether these methods have been effective. Shark protection laws are often lacking in proper enforcement. To help obscure species like the smooth hammerhead, please support the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and Shark Advocates International. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #hammerheadprofiles #shark #sharks #hammerhead #hammerheadshark #smoothhammerhead #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwp3_1tBGsO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mfeu7ppcak3u
