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hammerhead_shark [2013/12/27 16:48] (current)
grinder created
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 +{{::​hammerheadshark.jpg?​200|}}The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks in the family Sphyrnidae, so named for the unusual and distinctive structure of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a "​hammer"​ shape called a "​cephalofoil"​. Most hammerhead species are placed in the genus Sphyrna. Many not necessarily mutually exclusive functions have been proposed for the cephalofoil,​ including sensory reception, maneuvering,​ and prey manipulation. Hammerheads are found worldwide in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves. Unlike most sharks, hammerheads usually swim in schools during the day, becoming solitary hunters at night. The known species range from 0.9 to 6 m (3.0 to 20 ft) long and weigh from 3 to 580 kg (6.6 to 1,300 lb). They are usually light gray and have a greenish tint to them. Their bellies are white which allows them to be close to the bottom of the ocean and blend in to sneak up on their prey. It was determined recently that the hammer-like shape of the head may have evolved (at least in part) to enhance the animal'​s vision. The positioning of the eyes, mounted on the sides of the shark'​s distinctive hammer head give the shark good 360-degree vision in the vertical plane, meaning they can see above and below them at all times. The shape of the head was previously thought to help the shark find food, aiding in close-quarters maneuverability and allowing sharp turning movement without losing stability. Hammerheads have disproportionately small mouths and seem to do a lot of bottom-hunting. They are also known to form schools during the day, sometimes in groups of over 100. In the evening, like other sharks, they become solitary hunters.
  
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