Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran)

A shadow with wings of light, the great hammerhead moves in sweeping arcs over the reef. Its broad, unmistakable head turns slowly, sensing what the eyes can’t see — a silhouette both strange and graceful in equal measure.

Scientific Snapshot

A great hammerhead shark gliding above a coral reef, its wide cephalofoil cutting through clear blue water with balance and power.

Scientific Name: Sphyrna mokarran

Common Names: Great hammerhead shark

Average Size: Typically 3.5 to 4 meters (11–13 feet); can reach over 6 meters (20 feet)

Habitat: Warm tropical and subtropical waters; near reefs, continental shelves, and seamounts

Diet: Rays, bony fish, smaller sharks, crustaceans, and cephalopods

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Range: Circumtropical — found in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans

From the Field

The Story…

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