Hammerhead Sharks
by Krysta CardinaleThe Hammerhead Shark’s best known feature is the flattened shape of its head, hence the name it was given. This shark has nine known species, and they range from two to six meters long. They all have the flattened head with two projections one on each side. At the tip of these extensions is where their eyes and nostrils are located. They are overall gray in color, and have a white under-belly. Info on Hammerhead sharks reveals that they are typically aggressive predators. Humans are not generally part of a Hammerhead sharks’ attack. However, some species are very dangerous.
Like any other shark, this species also has an electro-location sensory system. This feature allows sharks to find prey in the dark waters of the ocean. Due to the shape of the hammerhead, these sharks’ sensory system is spread over a wider area and they have been reported to detect an electronic signal of half a billionth of a volt. The shape of their head also provides them with nostrils and nasal tract, increasing their ability to find prey ten times more than other sharks.
Hammerheads reproduce about once a year to from about twelve to forty babies. A female will be pregnant with the pups for about ten to twelve months. The mating process is actually violent. A male will continuously bite a female until she gives in and allows him to mate with her. Another feature that differentiates this shark from other types of sharks is the use of internal fertilization. When the babies are born they are on their own. There is no parenting done by either the male or female.
Information about Hammerhead Sharks’ Habitats
Hammerheads are native to warm ocean waters usually along coastlines and continental shelves. These sharks will migrate in the summer to find cooler waters. They have relatively smaller mouths so they have a tendency to be bottom-hunters. They usually feed on such things as fish, stingrays, crustaceans, and other sharks. Great Hammerhead Sharks have even been known to be cannibalistic. During the day, hammerheads can be found in large schools up to numbers of one hundred members, like fish. However, at night they are normally loners.
