Already it’s Shark Week! It’s the week where Discovery Channel broadcasts documentaries about one of the ocean’s greatest predators. It’s also the week where various organizations and groups educate us about sharks in attempts to correct our misunderstandings. This year, we’ll be talking about one shark in particular : the hammerhead shark.
Why are we talking about the hammerhead? After watching a fisherman catch one from the ocean shore, I decided to learn more about them. It turns out some species of hammerhead shark such as the Great Hammerhead and the Scalloped Hammerhead are critically endangered. Commercial fishing is one of the greatest threats to these sharks. At my beach, hammerheads must be released back into the ocean but this law is not the case everywhere. Another lesser but important to mention problem is culling even though hammerheads aren’t involved in fatal incidents.
So many people are unaware of how cool these creatures are. For one, the scientific genus name for hammerhead is Sphyrna which – surprise – comes from the Greek word for hammer. Because of this uniquely shaped head, hammerhead sharks have 360 degree vision. The only place they can’t see is in front of their nose.
There are nine species of hammerhead sharks that range from ninety centimeters to over twenty feet in length as well as range in habitats as they have been found in shallow and deep water. They are also capable of tanning from the sun, a fact not well known to most people.
Now you know that despite their intimidating appearance, hammerhead sharks are not like the menacing ones in the movies.