Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) fish species and Scalloped hammerhead information

Scientific Name
Sphyrna lewini

Common Name
Scalloped hammerhead

Biology
A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over continental and insular shelves and adjacent deep water, often approaching close inshore and entering enclosed bays and estuaries (Ref. 244, 11230, 58302). Found in inshore and offshore waters to about 275 m depth (Ref. 26938, 11230, 58302); has been filmed at a baited camera in 512 m depth (Lis Maclaren, pers. Comm. 2005). Huge schools of small migrating individuals move pole ward in the summer in certain areas (Ref. 244). Permanent resident populations also exist (Ref. 244). Juveniles occur in coastal areas (Ref. 58784). Adults solitary, in pairs, or schools; young in large schools (Ref. 13562). Feeds mainly on teleost fishes and cephalopods (Ref. 6871), also lobsters, shrimps, crabs (Ref. 30573), including other sharks and rays (Ref. 37816). Viviparous (Ref. 50449). Produces 15-31, of 43-55 cm young

Classification

Classified By

Griffith & Smith, 1834

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Hammerhead / bonnethead / scoophead sharks (Sphyrnidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumglobal in coastal warm temperate and tropical seas (Ref. 13562). Western Atlantic

Distribution

Circumglobal in coastal warm temperate and tropical seas (Ref. 13562). Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to Uruguay (Ref. 58839), including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Eastern Atlantic: western Mediterranean (Ref. 6678) to Namibia (Ref. 6812). Indo-Pacific: Red Sea, East Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean; Japan to New Caledonia, Hawaii and Tahiti. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Ecuador, probably Peru.

Range

46°N - 36°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

512 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; brackish; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 512 m, usually 0 - 25 m (Ref. 26999)

Trophic Level

4.08 s.e. 0.62 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

430 cm

Common Length

360 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5059 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (81 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (rm=0.028; K=0.1; tm=4-15; tmax=35; Fec=13-23)

Threat To Humans

Other (Ref. 13562)

IUCN Red List Status

Endangered (EN) (A2bd+4bd)

Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) fish species and information / pictures of Scalloped hammerhead - Sphyrna lewini

Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population