Sphyrna mokarran
Great Hammerhead
©Ellie Shuetrim and Alex Heath: This may be a Great Hammerhead seen at the Cod Hole on the Great Barrier Reef.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Elasmobranchii
Order
Carcharhiniformes
Family
Sphyrnidae
Genus
Sphyrna
Species
Sphyrna mokarran
Colours
Distinguishing features
This hammerhead shark has the front of the head smoothly curved, without indentations. It is solitary and oceanic (Allen et al, 2003)
Size
- Up to 610 cm (TL) - applies to Commonly around 370cm TL.
Depth range
- From 0 m to 300 m
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
Scalloped Hammerhead (species: Sphyrna lewini)
Indentations on front of head; often form groups and are found both in open water and around reefs (Allen et al, 2003) -
Animalia:
Scalloped Hammerhead (species: Sphyrna lewini)
Indentations on front of head; often form groups and are found both in open water and around reefs (Allen et al, 2003)
Interesting facts
- Hammerhead sharks use their wide heads to pin down stingrays like a wrestler and then while holding them, they bite off their side fins so the ray cannot escape.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Coastal-pelagic and semi-oceanic tropical species. Occurs close inshore and well offshore, over the continental shelves, island terraces, and in passes and lagoons of coral atolls, as well as over deep water near land.
Local abundance
- Lizard Island: No records of this species from Lizard Island
Web resources
Danger
- unspecified - This shark is considered dangerous (Allen et al, 2003).