
Shark of the Month
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March 2021
Scalloped Hammerhead
Photo credits: Galapagos Conservation Trust
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Facts:
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Live in large schools of up to hundreds of sharks
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They get caught in nets easily because of their head shape
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Their litter sizes are large, ranging from 12 to 40 pups
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Get their name from the scalloped edge on the front of their hammer shaped head
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They have a sensory organ called ampullae of Lorenzini which are electroreceptors that help them hunt for prey
Location: Coastal warm, temperate, and tropical seas around the world
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Length: 4.3 meters (154 feet)
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Age span: 15 to 30 years
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Weight: Up to 335 pounds (~152 kg)
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Conservation Status: Critically endangered
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Diet: Stingray, mackerel, herring, sardines, fish, cephalopods, other sharks (smaller)
For more information on the Scalloped Hammerhead, take a look at the following:
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https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/scalloped-hammerhead-shark
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https://www.sharkadvocates.org/cites_4sharks_hammerhead_fact_sheet.pdf
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https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/scalloped-hammerhead-shark
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https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/wildlife/scalloped_hammerhead_shark/