Family: Sphyrnidae, Hammerhead Sharks view all from this family

Description To 13'9" (4.2 m). Elongate, compressed; head greatly expanded laterally, with eyes at each end of lateral expansion; gray above, white below. Anterior margin of head with median indentation; corners of mouth in front of line drawn between rear corners of head. Eye large, separated from nostril by distance equal to diameter of eye; front of mouth on or near line drawn between eyes.

Warning Hammerheads are voracious predators and are dangerous to people.

Related Species Smooth Hammerhead (S. zygaena) lacks median indentation on head; eye and nostril closer together; occurs in similar habitat from Nova Scotia south to Florida, and off S. California.

Habitat In oceans near surface, sometimes in estuaries.

Range From New Jersey south to S. Brazil, including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

Discussion Hammerhead sharks are usually found near the surface where they feed on fishes and squids. They are known to attack their own kind as well as people.