Hammerhead Shark Facts For Kids | Hammerhead Shark Diet & Habitat

Learn some of the imperative hammerhead shark facts for kids including hammerhead sharks diet, habitat, and species. The hammerhead sharks are the group of sharks that belong to the Sphyrnidae and are literally known for their flat-stretched heads. These hammerhead sharks are being put in the genus Sphyrna. Hammerhead sharks inhabit all along the tepid waters and other coastlines and continental shelves. These species are known as solitary hunters and are known to swim in schools during daytime. Most of these schools are located near Cocos Island, Molokai Island, Malpelo Island, and off Costa Rica. A good many number of these schools also exist in eastern and southern Africa.

Interesting Hammerhead Shark Facts For Kids

• The length of the hammerhead sharks measure around 0.9 – 6 meters (3.0 – 20 feet).
• The weight of these species is about 500 – 1,000 pounds.
• The hammerhead sharks normally exhibit light grey to greenish tint skin color.
• They have white bellies with larger hammer-like head that gives them a name of hammerhead shark.
• According to the latest research undertaken by scientists, the hammerhead of these species enhances their vision.
• They have small mouths that are perfectly designed for bottom-hunting.
• They are found in large groups comprising more than 100 individuals.
• These species are solitary hunters.
• Scientists have discovered new species of hammerhead sharks in the year 2006 in South Carolina. This species is known as cryptic species.
• There are around nine species of hammerhead sharks amongst which only three are dangerous to humans; great hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, and the scalloped sharks.
• They are placed as the endangered species by IUCN, with the smalleye hammerhead sharks are rather more vulnerable.
• The juveniles are adept to swim in shallow waters all along the shores to get rid of potential predators.
• The hammerhead shark population is continuously declining and they are at the verge of extinction.
• The group of these species is called shoal or school.
• They employ their heads to attack on stingrays by pinning them against the sea floor.
• The hammerhead sharks are usually found in the moderate and tropical waters globally; they are often seen near shorelines.
• These gigantic sharks tend to migrate towards the cold water in summer.
• The undersides are off-white together with the olive-green top.
• The shape of the teeth is triangular one.
• They can be easily recognized by their additional dorsal fins.
• The majority of these species are usually inoffensive to humans with the exception of great hammerhead sharks.
• The hammerhead sharks are capable to identify the electrical fields produced by their prey. This is because they have group of sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini.
• As compared to other shark species, hammerheads have wide set of eyes that provide them extra vision.
• The average life span of hammerhead sharks is about 20 – 30 years in the wild.

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Reproduction | Hammerhead Shark Facts For Kids

• The reproduction of hammerhead sharks takes place once a year.
• The male sharks bite their females to prepare them for mating.
• The hammerhead sharks give birth to live young babies.
• The female sharks give birth to 12 – 15 pups. The Great Hammerhead sharks give birth to 20 – 40 pups.

What Do Hammerhead Sharks Eat

The hammerhead sharks primarily feed on squid, fish, crustaceans, octopus and other small hammerhead sharks. One of the most favorite foods of these sharks is Stingrays. They are typically known to swim at the bottom of the ocean. Some of these species are considered to be rather more aggressive.

Hammerhead Shark Species

• Great Hammerhead
• Smalleye Hammerhead
• Smooth Hammerhead
• Scalloped Hammerhead
• Winghead Hammerhead
• Bonnethead Hammerhead
• Scoophead