Species encyclopedia

Bonnethead Shark

Sphyrna tiburo

Biology

This small hammerhead shark is recognizable by the shape of its flat, rounded head.

It is a coastal species that inhabits shallow waters. It has a preference for the sandy or muddy bottoms of canals and estuaries, where it travels in shoals of a dozen sharks, although the males and females do not live together.

The bonnethead shark feeds on small fish, crustaceans and cuttlefish.

After mating, the female travels to an estuary to give birth to 4 to 16 young sharks (this is a viviparous, or live-bearing, species). At birth, a young bonnethead shark measures 35 cm in length.

The strange shape of its head allows it to efficiently locate its prey. By swinging it back and forth, the hammerhead shark gains a perfect panoramic view and collects a maximum of olfactory information.

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