Common names
Smooth hammerhead, Common hammerhead, Common smooth hammerhead, Round-headed hammerhead
Smooth hammerhead shark
Sphyrna zygaena
- Saltwater
- Vulnerable
Max length196.75 in
Common length139.75 in
Length typeFork Length
Max weight881 lb 14 oz
Depth range0 - 656 ft
Max age21 years
Water typeSaltwater
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Characterized by a distinctive hammer-shaped head, smooth hammerhead sharks stand apart with a central indentation in the arched front of their heads, setting them apart from other large hammerheads. These sharks exhibit a streamlined body, lacking the ridge between their dorsal fins, with the first dorsal fin high and sickle-shaped, featuring a round tip. Smooth hammerheads have flat, w-shaped scales on their skin and are typically drab brown-green, transitioning to lighter colors along the sides and white on the abdomen. Some may display dark edges on the undersides of their pectoral fins. The anal fin, larger than the second dorsal fin, presents a long free rear tip and a distinct notch in the rear margin.
Habitat
Occur inshore and well offshore, over continental and insular shelves. Coastal, pelagic, and semi-oceanic, but often bottom associated at 1-139 m.
Distribution
Widespread in temperate and tropical seas. Western Atlantic: Canada to the Virgin Islands; Brazil to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: British Isles to Côte d'Ivoire, including the Mediterranean. Indo-Pacific: South Africa to Sri Lanka; southern Siberia to Vietnam; southern Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Eastern Pacific: northern California, USA to Chile.
Behaviour
They prefer to feed on small sharks, skates, and stingrays, but also prey on bony fishes, shrimps, crabs, barnacles, and cephalopods. They migrate northward in summer, juveniles are often in large aggregations of hundreds of individuals. Smooth hammerheads are regarded as being dangerous to people, though only a few can be tentatively attributed to this species due to its occurrence in temperate waters.
Edibility
Although edible, the meat is considered undesirable and is not marketed. Consumers need to be aware that large specimens may have high levels of mercury and other pollutants. Notably, this shark has some of the highest-rated fins for the Asian shark fin soup market.
Lure suggestion
Most anglers catch smooth hammerhead sharks by trolling slowly and drifting or still fishing while chumming (almost a necessity). Other effective methods include bottom fishing, drift fishing, and surf casting. They can also be caught with the occasional lure. Good bait: oily or bloody baits (mackerel, jack, squid, other live fish, cut bait).
Similar species
Other similar species
Scalloped hammerhead shark, Great hammerhead shark