Chordates • Earth.com

Scalloped hammerhead

(Sphyrna lewini)

galery

Description

The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a species of hammerhead shark,and part of the family Sphyrnidae.Originally known as Zygaena lewini,its genus name was later changed 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.On average,males measure 1.5 to 1.8 m (4.9 to 5.9 ft) and weigh about 29 kg (64 lb) when they attain sexual maturity,whereas the larger females measure 2.5 m (8.2 ft) and weigh 80 kg (180 lb) on average at sexual maturity.The maximum length of the scalloped hammerhead is 4.3 m (14 ft) and the maximum weight 152.4 kg (336 lb),per FishBase.A female caught off of Miami was found to have measured 3.26 m (10.7 ft) and reportedly weighed 200 kg (440 lb),though was in a gravid state at that point.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order:Carcharhiniformes
Family:Sphyrnidae
Genus:Sphyrna
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