Hammerhead Shark Facts & Worksheets

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The hammerhead shark is a shark species known for the distinctive hammer-like structure of its head called a cephalofoil. Hammerhead sharks belong to the Sphyrnidae family. There are ten known species of hammerhead sharks in the world. These carnivorous sharks are usually found in tropical and temperate waters and continental shelves around Central America, Southern America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 

See the fact file below for more information on Hammerhead Sharks, or you can download our 26-page Hammerhead Shark worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

NAME & TAXONOMY

• The hammerhead shark’s name comes from the unusual yet unique shape of its head, which resembles a hammer or shovel.
• A group of hammerhead sharks is called a school or a shoal.
• In terms of scientific classification, hammerhead sharks belong to the kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Chondrichthyes, which consists of cartilaginous fishes; the order Carcharhiniformes, which is the largest order of sharks that include catsharks and swell sharks; and the family Sphyrnidae.

HABITAT

• In general, hammerhead sharks prefer warmer waters around Central America, Southern America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
• They are widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate marine areas and would rarely inhabit Arctic waters.
• Higher concentrations are found along coastlines and continental shelves more than in any other part of the ocean.

SIZE & WEIGHT

• Hammerhead sharks vary in size according to species. 
• According to National Geographic, the average length of hammerhead sharks is around 13 to 20 feet.
• The great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) is the largest hammerhead species.
• The longest great hammerhead shark reportedly measures 20 feet in length. The smallest would be the small scalloped bonnethead (Sphyrna corona) which was recorded as 35 inches long.
• Depending on the species, hammerhead sharks weigh between 500 to 1,000 lbs.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• The shape of a hammerhead shark’s head looks like a flattened and laterally extended version of a hammer. The shape is referred to as a cephalofoil.
• It is the cephalofoil that gives the hammerhead shark excellent depth perception and a wide range of binocular vision, which helps in hunting for food and navigating in the ocean.
• The shape of their heads varies slightly among species.
• The great hammerhead shark, for example, has a prominent T-shaped head, while the scalloped hammerhead shark has a more rounded head, and the smooth hammerhead has an unnotched rounded head.
• Hammerheads are typically light gray with a tint that leans toward the green spectrum.
• This shark has a white belly which aids them in catching its prey by allowing them to blend with its surroundings when viewed from below. 
• Hammerheads may have eyes that can yield 360 degrees of vision. However, these sharks are unable to see what’s right in front of them.
• Compared to other sharks, hammerheads have more electrosensory pores called the Ampullae of Lorenzini, which allows them to detect electrical fields created by other animals. 
• Hammerheads are much more perceptive by having more pores over a wider area compared to other sharks.
• Because of the increased sensitivity provided by this group of sensory organs, hammerheads could easily hunt their favorite prey—stingrays—which hide in the sands of the sea.
• Unlike their heads, the mouths of hammerheads are small, which is a disproportionate size compared to other sharks.
• As for their body type, they resemble other shark species in that their bodies are long and stout with a recognizable and curved dorsal fin.
• It is common that the first dorsal fin of a hammerhead shark is longer than its pectoral fin.

DIET

• Hammerhead sharks are carnivorous, which means they feed on flesh and meat.
• They are known to be aggressive hunters that feed on smaller sharks and fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans like crabs and lobsters. 
• In catching their prey, hammerheads use their heads to slam and pin them until the animal gets worn down.
• Their favorite food is stingray, a cartilaginous and boneless fish related to sharks.
• Hammerheads can tolerate the sharp stings of a stingray. 
• There have been pieces of barb from stingrays found embedded in the skin of hammerheads.

REPRODUCTION & LIFE SPAN

• Hammerhead sharks are viviparous, meaning they grow their young inside their bodies before giving live birth to them.
• In the body of a hammerhead, an embryo is nourished through a yolk sac, similar to a placenta in a mammal.
• Reproduction happens only once a year; male sharks violently bite female sharks as a way to convince them to mate.
• Baby hammerhead sharks are called pups.
• Pups do not need parental care from the moment they are born.
• At times, female sharks don’t need a male to produce pups.
• The bonnethead can fertilize an egg without sperm, a process called parthenogenesis.
• A female shark can carry up to 50 pups at once, depending on its size. The larger the shark, the more pups she can carry.

TEN SPECIES

• The ten species of hammerhead sharks include the Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran); the Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini); the Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo); the Scalloped bonnethead (Sphyrna corona); the Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena); the Whitefin hammerhead (Sphyrna couardi); the Carolina hammerhead (Sphyrna gilberti); the Scoophead (Sphyrna media); the Smalleye hammerhead (Sphyrna tudes); and the Winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii).

MORE FACTS ABOUT HAMMERHEAD SHARK

• Hammerhead sharks are a younger species compared to most sharks; they have existed for about 20 to 25 million years, while sharks have generally been around for at least 420 million years.
• When they are not hunting at night, hammerheads socialize in groups during the day. One school can consist of up to 500 sharks.
• Tanning from light gray to a darker shade is an ability that hammerheads have developed because they love being in shallow waters. 
• Great hammerhead sharks often swim sideways as their first dorsal fin is longer than their pectoral fin, which increases their maneuverability. 
• Hammerheads are generally harmless to humans, and there have been relatively few attacks by their species.
• The number one threat to the hammerhead population is human activity and fishing.

Hammerhead Shark Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hammerhead Sharks across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hammerhead Sharks. The hammerhead shark is a shark species known for the distinctive hammer-like structure of its head called a cephalofoil. Hammerhead sharks belong to the Sphyrnidae family. There are nine known species of hammerhead sharks in the world.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Hammerhead Shark Facts
2. Hammy The Hammerhead
3. Shark or Shocker?
4. The Hammerhead Diet
5. Shark Sketch
6. Testing Vocabulary
7. What’s In A Head?
8. Match The Species
9. Watch And Learn
10. Curiosity Page
11. My Hammerhead Fable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hammerhead shark?

A hammerhead shark is a type of shark characterized by its distinctive hammer-shaped head, which is called a cephalofoil. Hammerhead sharks belong to the family Sphyrnidae, which includes nine different species found in oceans around the world.

What do hammerhead sharks eat?

Hammerhead sharks are carnivorous and feed primarily on a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans. They use their wide heads to sweep through schools of prey, increasing their chances of catching food.

Where do hammerhead sharks live?

Hammerhead sharks are found in warm and tropical waters around the world, including the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. They prefer shallow waters close to shore, but some species can also be found in deeper waters.

Are hammerhead sharks dangerous to humans?

While hammerhead sharks are generally not considered a major threat to humans, they are still capable of attacking if provoked or threatened. However, there have been few reported incidents of hammerhead shark attacks on humans, and most attacks are not fatal.

What is unique about the hammerhead shark’s head?

• The hammer-shaped head, or cephalofoil, of the hammerhead shark, is unique in that it provides the shark with several advantages. The wide shape of the head allows the shark to have better vision and an increased ability to detect prey, and it also provides lift and maneuverability when swimming. Additionally, the positioning of the shark’s eyes allows it to have a greater field of vision than other sharks.

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Link will appear as Hammerhead Shark Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 30, 2023