Scalloped Hammerhead

Description:

The scalloped hammerhead is a species of hammerhead shark, family Sphyrnidae. Originally Zygaena lewini, it was later moved to its current name. The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head. The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark, as in all hammerheads, is the 'hammer' on its head. The shark's eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions. This is a fairly large hammerhead, though is smaller than both the Great and Smooth Hammerheads. This shark is also known as the bronze, kidney-headed or southern hammerhead.

Habitat:

It primarily lives in warm temperate and tropical coastal waters all around the globe between latitudes 46° N and 36° S, down to a depth of 500 metres (1,600 ft). It is the most common of all hammerheads.

Notes:

In Galapagos, Hammerhead Sharks are often seen in school of easily 50 to more than a hundred. They can be seen in solitary when they head to the shallow reefs to hunt or to get cleaned by reef fishes