Why is the scalloped hammerhead endangered?

It is heavily targeted for the shark fin trade; Atlantic populations alone have declined by more than 95% over the past 30 years.

How does the scalloped hammerhead hunt stingrays?

It uses its wide, hammer-shaped head to pin the stingray against the seafloor before biting it.

How many pups does a scalloped hammerhead have?

After a gestation of roughly 12 months, it gives birth to litters of 12 to 41 pups.

Scalloped Hammerheadアカシュモクザメ

Sphyrna lewiniCR— Critically Endangered

The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a large hammerhead shark identified by the distinctive scalloped, curved margin of its head, found in warm temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide, from the surface to over 500 m deep. It is a generalist predator of bony fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays, using its wide head to pin down prey such as stingrays, and gives birth to 12-41 live pups after roughly a year's gestation. Heavily targeted for the shark fin trade, its populations have collapsed by more than 90% in parts of its range, and it is classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

Scalloped Hammerhead (reference photo) — Photo: Barry Peters / CC BY 2.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Carcharhiniformes / Sphyrnidae Source
Size: Reaches a maximum total length of about 430 cm and weight of 152.4 kg (in the northwest Atlantic, males mature at about 1.8 m and females at about 2.5 m)
Diet: Carnivore Carnivorous, feeding mainly on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and also preying on small rays such as stingrays and on sharks
Distribution: Found worldwide from about 46°N to 36°S in warm temperate and tropical waters, from the surface to depths over 500 m, though most often above 25 m. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

The head's "hammer" has a curved central indentation flanked by two smaller notches on each side, giving it its scalloped profile. Source
When hunting stingrays, it uses its entire hammer-shaped head to pin the prey against the seafloor. Source
Gestation lasts about 12 months, with litters of 12-41 pups. Heavily targeted for the shark fin trade, Atlantic populations have declined by more than 95% over the past 30 years. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3

NOTOJIMA AQUARIUMIshikawaThe nearest station is Wakura-Onsen Station.

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Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990

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SHIKOKU AQUARIUMKagawa4 Hama-Ichibancho, Utazu, Ayauta District, Kagawa (inside Utazu Rinkai Park).

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered (CR)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why is the scalloped hammerhead endangered?: It is heavily targeted for the shark fin trade; Atlantic populations alone have declined by more than 95% over the past 30 years. Source
How does the scalloped hammerhead hunt stingrays?: It uses its wide, hammer-shaped head to pin the stingray against the seafloor before biting it. Source
How many pups does a scalloped hammerhead have?: After a gestation of roughly 12 months, it gives birth to litters of 12 to 41 pups. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?: Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 3 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org