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10 Cool Facts About Hammerhead Sharks

These sea creatures are not only unique but also fascinating. They have very distinctive features that make them easy to recognise compared to other sea creatures. This can be attributed to the shape of their heads, which makes it easy for the animals to be identified.

The hammerhead shark is usually found in warm waters in Africa, Australia, Asia, Central America and Southern America. Therefore, this article will delve into the ten cool facts about these sea creatures to expand your knowledge base when it comes to sea animals and also give them a little insight into why we love the creatures so much.

1 The hammerhead shark has nine species

There are at least nine known species of hammerhead sharks, but there may be a possibility of more species, as studies suggest. The nine species of the hammerhead shark include the small eye,  the scalloped hammerhead, the bonnethead, the winghead shark, the scoophead and the great hammerhead. The species are greatly endangered, and their population is rapidly diminishing. The different species live in different habitats even though they have a similar appearance.

2 The Hammerhead part in the shark is called a cephalofoil

A picture of a hammerhead shark. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The hammerhead shape that gave the shark its distinctive name is known as the cephalofoil. The cephalofoil has its purpose in that it helps the shark in navigation and finding food. Furthermore, the cephalofoil also gives the creature binocular vision and greater depth perception. The hammer-like shape also gives this species of shark an edge over the other species of sharks in that they possess a greater number of electrolytes which is essential in increasing their navigation skills and ability to detect prey.

3 They are shy

Hammerhead shark. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Sharks are considered one of the top predators among sea creatures, which is quite surprising that the hammerhead sharks are shy. The hammerhead sharks can be scared off with a few bubbles despite their big and scary size. Therefore, if you are planning to go scuba diving near hammerhead sharks, you should ensure that you do not release any bubbles or cause great disturbance to the water as they will flee.

4 Hammerhead Sharks cannot see in front of them

We have just noted that the cephalofoil, which is the hammerhead shape of the shark, gives them binocular vision, which means that the creature has a 360° range of vision. However, the 360° vision means that they can see clearly what is above them and below them but then in the front part, there is a challenge as they cannot see well. This is because the position of their eyes creates a blindspot on the nose and this makes it hard for them to see what is in front of them.

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5 Hammerhead sharks swim sideways

A hammerhead shark swimming. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The hammerhead shark has a distinctive way of swimming, which can be attributed to the different lengths of fins it has when it is compared to other sharks. The hammerhead shark’s first dorsal fin is slightly longer than the pectoral fin. Therefore, they use their dorsal fin instead of the pectoral fin to swim effectively and efficiently. Their unique body shape means they must adapt and learn to swim efficiently.

6 Hammerhead sharks can eat their own young

Because they are carnivorous, hammerhead sharks consume a variety of fish as well as other sea life, like squid and octopus. Sting rays make up a large portion of the food of many hammerhead sharks. In addition to eating other sharks, including other hammerheads, certain hammerheads may occasionally consume their own young. These sharks stun or impale their victims with their distinctive heads.

7 The hammerhead shark is not very old

A scalloped hammerhead shark. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Sharks are usually said to be the dinosaurs of the sea because research shows that they existed 420 million years ago at the time that dinosaurs were around. However, this is not the case for the hammerhead shark in that the existence of these creatures can only be dated back to about 20 to 20 million years ago. Even though this is quite a long time ago, it is not as far back as the other shark species, which means that the hammerhead shark is a newly evolved species.

8 They give birth to live pups

This is quite interesting because hammerhead sharks can fertilise their eggs without the male and thus exhibit virginal births. A female hammerhead is usually pregnant for eight to ten months and then they give birth to pups. The hammerhead can get fifty pups at once, and unlike other animals that usually stay with the mother until they can start depending on themselves, the pups are on their own from birth.

9 They travel in groups

A school of sharks. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Hammerhead sharks like to travel in groups. A group of hammerhead sharks is known as a school; one school can contain up to 500 sharks. However, the school splits into smaller groups when it turns dark, and some sharks may even swim solo. The large number of sharks makes for a unique experience for divers as they see and swim close to many of these animals. Furthermore, hammerhead sharks are not aggressive or considered dangerous, which is why humans can get close to them.

10 The sharks are not affected by stingray stings

The hammerhead shark’s first choice regarding its prey is the stingray. Therefore, to ensure that they catch the prey, the sharks have developed tolerance to the stingray sting and thus do not affect them. The stingray sting is usually very painful, and when a human is stung, they start swelling and experience a lot of pain.

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