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Animal World
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark — photograph 1
📷 Wikimedia Commons · Free License
IUCN: Critically Endangered

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna lewini

KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassChondrichthyes›OrderCarcharhiniformes›FamilySphyrnidae›GenusSphyrna
About

The scalloped hammerhead is a species of hammerhead shark in the family Sphyrnidae. It was originally known as Zygaena lewini. The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head, which is its most distinguishing characteristic.

The shark's eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions. It is a fairly large hammerhead, but is still smaller than both the great and smooth hammerheads.

Key Facts
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Habitat
Coastal and offshore waters, often near seamounts and islands
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Diet
Fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans, and stingrays
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Size & Weight
Up to 4.3 m; weight up to 152 kg
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Lifespan
25–35 years
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Range
Worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas
FishShark
Photo Credits
#1Wikimedia Commons · Free License
#2Barry Peters` · CC BY 2.0
#3suneko · CC BY 2.0
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