Hammerhead Shark

Facts about Hammerhead Sharks

They prefer to live in warm water that is found along the coastlines. They can be found in tropic and sub tropic waters all over the world. They tend to migrate to cooler water in the summer months. They prefer to live well below the surface of the water. They have been known to live more that 250 feet below the surface of the water.

Facts about Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead Shark

What do Hammerhead Sharks Eat?

While the hammerhead shark is mellow, it takes hunting for food very seriously. They have a great sense of smell so they are able to locate food without too much trouble. They eat a variety of foods including small fish, sting rays, small sharks, and squid. There are reports that when food is scarce the hammerheads will eat each other as a last resort in order to survive.

The Anatomy of a Hammerhead Shark

There is no mistaking a hammerhead shark when you see one. The head is wide and very thick. It looks like a hammer at both ends and their eyes are set out on these ends so they are very far apart. The body is a light gray on the top with white underneath. They have a dorsal fin that is very big and it has a point at the top of it.

They feature rows of teeth just like other types of sharks. They have a triangle shape to them and they are extremely sharp. They vary significantly in size and weight. They can end up being between 12 and 20 feet long. They can also weigh from 500 to 1,000 pounds.

Most species of hammerhead sharks have a greenish tint to them. Some are a light gray while others are more green. Underneath they are white which allows them to blend in well in the water and to go undetected by their prey.

Reproduction of Hammerhead Sharks

Female hammerhead sharks give birth to their pups. They can have from 20-40 of them at any one time. They immediately separate themselves from the young though. Since these sharks have such a unique shape they are often feared in the water so they don’t have too many enemies. A good percentage of the young hammerheads will survive.

The Future for Hammerhead Sharks

The exact number of hammerhead sharks found around the world isn’t fully known. Since they are often so deep below the surface of the water it is hard to get an exact count. Yet researchers believer this is a sufficient number of them that they aren’t in danger at all.

Hammerhead sharks seem to adapt well to their surroundings. Since they are willing to eat whatever they can get their hands on they will continue to survive. One concern for them is changes in the temperature of the water as they don’t seem to do well when it is too cold.