Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead sharks are sharks named for their lateerally shaped head of the nine speciecs known they can  range in size from 3ft - 20ft and 6.6lb - 1300lb. The shape of their head and the positioning of the eyes allows 360 degree vision on the verticla plane allowing them to see above and below themselves at all times. Hammer heads have small mouths and do alot of bottom feeding. During the day these sharks form schools sometimes in upwards of 100 and at night beocme solitary hunters.Reproduction only occurs once a year for hammerhead sharks and usually occurs with the male shark biting the female shark violently until she agrees to mate with him.The hammerhead sharks exhibit a viviparous mode of reproduction with females giving birth to live young. Like other sharks, fertilization is internal with the male transferring sperm to the female through one of two intromittent organs called claspers. The developing embryos are at first sustained by a yolk sac. When the supply of yolk is exhausted, the depleted yolk sac transforms into a structure analogous to a mammalian placenta (called a "yolk sac placenta" or "pseudoplacenta"), through which the mother delivers sustenance until birth. Once the baby sharks are born, they are not taken care of by the parents in any way. There is usually a litter of 12 to 15 pups; except for the Great Hammerhead which births litters of 20 to 40 pups. These baby sharks huddle together and swim toward warmer water and stay together until they are older and big enough to be on their own.Hammerhead sharks are known to eat a large range of items including fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans, and other hammerhead sharks. Stingrays are a particular favorite. These sharks are found many times swimming along the bottom of the ocean, stalking their prey. Their unique head is used as a weapon when hunting down prey. The hammerhead shark uses its head to pin down stingrays and eats the ray when the ray is weak and in shock.

As of 2009 there have been 34 attacks reported with 17 being unprovoked and 1 being fatal. To help prevent shark attack use the following steps

avoiding the water at dawn, dusk, or night, when sharks tend to feed;

avoiding areas where sharks generally locate themselves, such as murky waters, sandbars, and steep drop-offs

avoiding swimming alone, always being near a group of people, and if possible, avoiding being at the edge of the group;

refraining from excess splashing or movement;

preventing pets from entering the water;

avoiding shiny jewelry, tan lines and bright clothing, all of which can attract sharks;

avoiding entering water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating;

avoiding areas where prey animals of sharks live, for instance seals;

avoiding areas where the remains of fish have been discarded into the water, such as near fishermen cleaning their catch.

avoiding waters contaminated with sewage or runoff and areas frequented by sport or commercial fisherman