Hammerhead Shark:

Hammerhead sharks are known for their distinctive morphology, which incorporates hammer-shaped heads that protrude laterally. They have wide eyes that increase their sight field, making it easier for them to locate their prey. Their large head also has sensory organs that assist them to detect the movement of other marine animals. The “ampullae”, a unique sensory organ of hammerhead sharks, helps them detect the electrical fields created by small prey buried in the sand. They are among the largest marine predators, weighing up to 1000 pounds and measuring up to 21 feet in length. They prefer to migrate to warm waters and reside in tropical and temperate waters. Hammerhead sharks are solitary predators that eat stingrays, bony fish, crabs, squids, and other marine mammals.

Hammerhead sharks are an important part of the marine ecology, as they keep the competition between small predators and preys in a coastal marine ecosystem under check. Hammerhead shark fins are made up of unique cartilage that is crucial in medical research. This cartilage is used for the treatment of arthritis and cancer in humans and animals. Hammerhead sharks are excellent swimmers who occasionally consume seagrass. Male hammerhead sharks are aggressive during their breeding seasons, biting females to allow them to mate. Adult female hammerhead sharks have scratches on their bodies because of this. They grow rapidly and achieve sexual maturity at the age of 5 or 6, and they can live for up to 40 years.

Conservation Status:

Hammerhead shark populations have been falling for three decades and are now categorized as “endangered.” Fining and overfishing are the primary causes of their population reduction. They are migratory sharks that migrate to warmer waters and are therefore targeted by hunters. The extinction of these apex predators could have major consequences for the coastal ecosystem, which is why conservation efforts are vital.