It is easily recognizable by its unique hammer-shaped head, known as a cephalofoil, which is longer and straighter than those of other hammerhead species. This majestic and powerful predator roams the warm waters of oceans worldwide, from coastal areas and island terrains to deeper offshore environments.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the great hammerhead is its size. It can grow up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length, making it one of the largest hammerhead species. This shark’s imposing size is complemented by its muscular build, which helps it to swim swiftly through the water in search of food. Its coloration is another distinctive feature, typically a light grey on the top with a white underbelly, which helps camouflage it from both prey below and potential threats above.
The head of the great hammerhead is not just for show. It provides incredible navigational and sensory advantages. The wide set of eyes gives the shark a better visual range than most other sharks, allowing for almost 360-degree vision. This visual ability is critical when scanning for food or navigating through complex underwater landscapes. Moreover, the cephalofoil is equipped with electroreceptors known as ampullae of Lorenzini, which detect the electrical fields created by potential prey. This makes the great hammerhead a formidable hunter, able to detect prey hidden under the sand on the ocean floor.
One of the unique behaviors of the great hammerhead is its solitary nature. Unlike some of its relatives, which may form large schools, the great hammerhead is typically a loner, roaming the oceans independently. It is known to be more aggressive and assertive than other hammerhead species, especially when hunting.
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean
Indian ocean
Pacific ocean
Black sea
Mediterranean Sea
Gulf of Mexico
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
Bosnia And Herz.
Brazil
British Indian T.
British Virgin Is.
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo-Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Côte D’ivoire
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern T.
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Kuwait
Liberia
Libya
Macao
Madagascar
Maldives
Malta
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Réunion
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
Sudan
Suriname
São Tomé & Príncipe
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turks & Caicos
UAE
US Virgin Islands
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
YemenAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
