Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Cornuda Prieta
(Sphyrna zygaena)

Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena: The Smooth Hammerhead Shark has an overall brownish-grey coloration and is white ventrically. It is characterized by a broadly convex head, with three lobes on the front margin. The “blade” is 26 to 29 percent of the total body length and has two modest indentations on the outer edges with no indentation in the middle.

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark has a large first dorsal fin that has a rounded tip and a concave back. The base of the anal fin is longer than the base of the second dorsal fin. The second dorsal fin originates behind the anal fin.

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark reaches a maximum length of 16 feet and is normally found in the first 600 feet of the water column. It travels individually or in large schools.

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark can be confused with the Great Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna mokarran (first dorsal fin very tall with a pointed tip and a straight rear edge; margin of head is straight), and the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna lewini (broadly convex head profile with a central indentation).

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark is found in all Mexican waters. It is sold commercially for food and the skin is sold for use in leather products. Reports of attacks on humans by the Smooth Hammerhead Shark are exceedingly rare.

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark, a pelagic species found in all tropical seas, is a member of the Sphyrnidae Family which includes Bonnethead Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, and Scoophead Sharks, which collectively are known in Mexico fishing areas as tiburones martillos. Each family member has a strongly flattened front head with side extensions that are axe, mallet, or spade shaped, with eyes on the outer edges. They all have elongated rounded slender bodies with two dorsal fins, the first of which is high and pointed.

They have five gill slits with the last one over the front of the pectoral fins. They have crescent-shaped tails. Members of the Sphyrna genus have a unique small second dorsal fin that is very asymmetrical and they have a notched tail base. There are eight Sphyrna species known globally, of which six frequent Mexican fishing waters. All feed on a variety of fishes, crabs, lobsters, octopi, shrimps, squid and snails.

Smooth Hammerhead Shark Fish picture

Smooth Hammerhead Shark Fish picture

Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena: April 2006. Photos courtesy of John Snow.

Smooth Hammerhead Shark Fish picture

Smooth Hammerhead Shark Fish picture

Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna zygaena: Caught during a fishing trip with Capt. Pata in the panga Salomé, in May 2006, in 76-degree water on flylined white mullet bait, 25 miles north of La Playita, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Size approximately 5 feet and 40 pounds that required about a 20-minute tug-of-war to land. A rare catch. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

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