Hammerhead Shark

About the Hammerhead Shark

Their distinctive head shape (cephalofoil) gives them 360-degree vertical vision and houses electroreceptors that detect buried prey. The wider the head, the better the electroreception. They can detect a stingray buried under sand from the electrical signals of its heartbeat. They school in groups of up to 500 during the day, one of the few sharks to exhibit social behavior. Over 10 species exist. The great hammerhead reaches 6 meters. They are viviparous - giving birth to live young. They are endangered due to shark finning. Their fins sell for $100 per bowl of soup in Hong Kong.