Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sphyrna mokarran
- Common name
- Great hammerhead
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Sphyrnidae
- Genus
- Sphyrna
- Size
- 300–610 cm
- Depth
- 0–300 m
- IUCN status
- Critically endangered (CR)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water
- Behaviours
- solitary, fast-moving
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, East Atlantic
Description
Sphyrna mokarran reaches 6.1 m and 580 kg, largest hammerhead shark in the world. Very straight T-shaped hammer silhouette with multiple notches on anterior edge (distinct from scalloped S. lewini with single central notch), fusiform body bronze-gray to brown with light belly, very tall sickle-shaped first dorsal fin. Circumtropical distribution, from Bahamas (Bimini, Tiger Beach) to Red Sea (Elphinstone), Galápagos, Maldives, Mozambique. Apex predator of rays, sharks, large fish, cephalopods. IUCN Critically Endangered, populations collapsed by fin fishing. Mythical dive photo subject, rare and memorable encounter.
Photo of Great hammerhead
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Great hammerhead?
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) reaches 300–610 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Great hammerhead?
- Great hammerhead is found between 0–300 m deep.
- Is the Great hammerhead dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Great hammerhead?
- IUCN status: Critically endangered (CR).
- Where can you find the Great hammerhead?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, East Atlantic.
Other species in the genus Sphyrna
- Sphyrna zygaena - Smooth hammerhead
- Sphyrna lewini - Scalloped hammerhead
- Sphyrna tiburo - Bonnethead Shark
- Sphyrna media - Scoophead shark
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 105817)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2418792)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia