Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead, bonnethead, or scoophead sharks)
Etymology: Sphyrna: Probable misspelling of sphyra (Gr.), hammer, referring to their hammer-shaped heads (See ETYFish); tudes: Latin for hammer, referring to its hammer-shaped head (See ETYFish).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic, usually ? - 12 m (Ref. 244). Subtropical; 46°N - 57°S, 73°W - 37°E (Ref. 244)
Southwest Atlantic: Venezuela to Argentina (Ref. 58839). Also Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Pacific (Ref. 7251).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 134 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); 148.0 cm TL (female)
A little-known inshore shark of the continental shelf, found down to at least 12 m depth. Feeds on small bony fishes, including sea catfish and grunts, but also newborn scalloped hammerheads, swimming crabs, squids, and shrimp. Viviparous with a yolk-sac placenta; number of young probably 6 to 9 per litter (Ref. 244).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Viviparous, with yolk-sac plazenta; number of young probably 6 - 9 per litter. Size at birth about 30 cm.
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 17.6 - 27.8, mean 21.1 °C (based on 613 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5029 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00347 (0.00153 - 0.00788), b=3.12 (2.93 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=6).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (89 of 100).