Hammerhead Sharks essays

Hammerhead Sharks essays The Hammerhead Shark is part of the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertabrata, class Chondrichthyes, order Selachii, family Sphyrinidae. There are eight or nine species of Hammerheads (Sphyrina couardi was added to the Sphyrina lewini genus), which are the Bonnethead (Shovelhead), Sphyrina tiburo, the Scalloped Hammerhead, Sphyrina lewini, the Winghead, Eusphyra blochii, the Common Hammerhead, Sphyrina zygaena, the Scoophead, Sphyrina media, the Whitefin Hammerhead, Sphyrina couardi, the Smalleye Hammerhead, Sphyrina tudes, the Scalloped Bonnethead, Sphyrina corona, and the Great Hammerhead, Sphyrina mokarran. Of all sharks, the Hammerhead definitely stands out. The Hammerhead is one of the oddest looking sharks. It has hammer-like projections on either side of its head. Some scientists think the hammer lets the shark get more lift when swimming, but no one has proved it. Another theory is that the hammer gives more space for sensory organs. Hammerheads are grayish, with a few variations, in color. They have rough, sandpaper like skin. They have an eye and nostril at each end of the hammer. They have sharp teeth in the front of their mouth for ripping and tearing and molars for crushing shells in the back. They swing their heads side to side when they swing to get a good view of their surroundings. Other than the hammer, the shark looks like most other sharks, with two pectoral fins, a dorsal fin, two pelvic fins, two tiny fins before the tail, and a vertical tail. Hammerhead sharks grow between to 5 to 20 feet. The smallest is the Bonnethead at 5 feet, the largest the Great Hammerhead at 20. Hammerhead sharks live throughout the world. They live in warm, tropical and temperate waters, staying near the coast. Some live in brackish water where rivers meet the oceans on coasts. Hammerhead schools often swim near underwater peaks and other features. The farthest north they range is about Newfoundland. Some species of Hammerhead...