Critter of the Day: Hammerheads
Jeff Rotman/Seapics.comThe two widely spaced eyes perched on the tip fo the head tilt slightly forward, providing the hammerhead with keen binocular vision.
Andrew SallmonIn 2011, a captive bonnethead shark, the smallest species of hammerheads, gave birth without fertilization from a male — the first known case of parthenogenesis documented among sharks.
Brandon ColeThe broad cephalofoil enables hammerheads to project a wide electronic field to detect buried prey.
Brandon ColeA great hammerhead was documented pinning a large southern stingray to the bottom with its head before devouring the crippled ray.
Masa Ushioda/ Coolwaterphoto.comIt remains unknown why scalloped hammerheads form large schools, but divers certainly enjoy encountering the spectacular sight.
You've seen these guys before. The sight of them can be terrifying, but this creature of the marine world is truly unique.
The hammerhead genus name Sphyrna (Greek), which translates to “hammer” in English, refers to the shark’s distinctive head. There are also ten species of hammerheads that inhabit the warm, temperate seas around the world.
These neat sharks can even suntan. When exposed to increased levels of sunlight, their skin gets darker.
