By: David H.
Submitted: 2009-10-11 22:49:51 | Word Count: 523
The hammerhead sharks are extraordinary fish. They are considered harmless, attacking only when provoked. The hammerhead sharks are among the most amazing inhabitants of the seas.
Hammerhead is one of about 360 kinds of sharks. The hammerhead sharks are included in the category of aggressive predators. Hammerhead sharks are usually located in warm waters of coastlines and continental shelves. There are hammerhead sharks in the Gulf of Mexico near the western Florida waters. This type of shark is protected by conservation agreements.
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There are nine known species of hammerhead sharks. They can typically grow from a little less than one meter to almost 6 meters. The heads are likened to a flattened hammer. Their eyes and nostrils are situated on those parts resembling hammer. There are beliefs that the unusual shape of the head helps the shark in finding food and maneuvering. The specialized designed vertebrae enable the shark to do exact turnings. The hammer shape of the head of the shark served as some sort of wing for lift purposes.
The color of the hammerhead shark is grey brown on the top. The belly is somewhat dirty white. The dorsal fin is large and pointed. The teeth are triangular like saws.
The hammerhead shark is using its tremendous smell in locating its prey. They are cannibalistic. Stingrays are a delicacy for them. They also feed on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
The hammerhead sharks are harmless sea creatures. These sharks do not normally attack people, only when they are provoked.
The hammerhead sharks are in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. These sharks travel to cooler waters during the summer. These sharks are viviparous which is giving birth to live offspring. The great hammerhead sharks give birth to some 20 – 40 young at the same time. These young sharks are about 70 centimeters long.
It can be said that sharks are advanced evolutionary species. Sharks are in existence for about twenty five million years. There are characteristics sharks displayed which only mammals and a few animals have. Sharks fertilization is internal. As stated earlier, sharks are born alive. Sharks have large brains and have a high learning ability.
Hammerheads are no difference with other sharks. They have developed senses. These sharks are sensitive to the blue green portion of the spectrum. Red can also be seen by sharks. Hammerhead sharks can also be sensitive to low or without light. Ocean floors are dark places.
Hammerheads sharks hearing can be put in the higher degree. The range of sound sharks hear is like of human can. Low frequency vibration is the specialty of sharks. There are also canals in the hammerheads sharks for balance and detecting motion.
Hammerhead sharks also have tremendous sense of smell. Detection is possible even if the chemical is one part per million of water. This is the reason why sharks can easily smell blood mixed in sea water. These sharks can smell the scent of wounded prey from miles away.
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is including to its 2008 Red List the scalloped hammerhead. It is labeled as “globally endangered.” There is a collective concern among the scientists to preserve these unique creatures.
