Description:
The unusual Hammerhead Shark is aptly named.
All nine known species of Hammerhead Sharks
have flattened heads with projections that
extend from each side in the manner of a
hammer. It is thought that the hammerhead's
oddly shaped head helps it to more efficiently
detect miniscule electrical signals emitted
by prey sources, and to pick up their scents
better. Like all sharks, Hammerheads have
special sensory pores called ampullae of
Lorenzini that enable them to pick up electrical
signals from prey. The Hammerhead Shark
can detect electrical signals as weak as
one half billionth of a volt! Some scientists
have classified this ability as a sixth
sense.
The
Hammerhead Shark may measure up to twelve
feet in length and weigh between 500-1,000
pounds. There are nine species of Hammerhead
Sharks, with three considered dangerous
to humans.
Diet:
The Hammerhead Shark preys upon
fish, squid, octopi, rays, and crustaceans.
Great White Sharks sometimes prey upon hammerheads.
Range/Habitat:
Hammerhead Sharks are usually found in warmer
waters along coastlines or the continental
shelves. They usually stay in shallow, tropical
waters, but can be found at depths of 250
feet.
Reproduction:
The male Hammerhead Shark will attack the
female until she submits to mating. Upon
fertilization, the embryos develop inside
the female, and are nourished through her
umbilical cord. After 10 to 12 month, the
female gives birth to between 20 and 40
pups (occasionally up to 55). Once the pups
are born, they are abandoned by the parents
and are left to fend for themselves. In
a landmark discovery made in 2007, scientists
revealed that Hammerhead Sharks could actually
reproduce asexually! In other words, the
female can fertilize her own eggs, without
a male, and give birth. This process, known
as parthenogenesis, is thought to be extremely
rare in the wild.
