Carolina Hammerhead Shark

Carolina Hammerhead Shark Facts

• This amazing species, the Carolina Hammerhead Shark, represents yet another newly discovered species. The first confirmed discovery of this shark occurred in November 2013.
• Scientists’ common name for this surprising new variety of shark derives from the location where it was discovered.
• The scientific name of the species, however, officially lists as Sphyrna gilbertis.
• We apologize for posting a photo of a deceased creature, but this species remains so new to science that only a few photos currently remain available.
• Obviously, very little confirmed information exists at this time, also.
• Yet, this newly recognized species happens to be nearly identical in appearance to another type of shark, the Scalloped Hammerhead.

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Carolina Hammerhead Shark Physical Description 

Like many types of shark, the Carolina Hammerhead Shark appears to display a rather marked degree of sexual dimorphism. Researchers also believe males attain a length of roughly 5.9 ft (1.8 m), while the larger females reach 8.2 ft 92,5 m).

The shark only appears physically distinguishable from other species of hammerheads by the number of vertebrae, however. Only 56 individuals have been observed since the animal’s discovery, yet none of these included adult specimens.

Experts also currently estimate that the creature attains a maximum adult length of about 11 ft (3.3 m). Its adult weight likely reaches about 400 lb (181 kg).

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Chondrichthyes
• Order:  Carcharhiniformes
• Family: Sphymidae
• Genus: Sphyrna
• Species: S. gilberti

Carolina Hammerhead Shark Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The full extent of the range of the Carolina Hammerhead Shark presently remains uncertain but it may also exist in other warm climates as well. If its numbers remain few, it would explain why it has never observed elsewhere.

The discovery of the shark occurred in the ocean waters a short distance off the coast of South Carolina, in the United States, in North America.

Although researchers cannot yet be certain, the creature appears to inhabit the relatively shallow ocean waters near the mainland.

In addition, the newly identified species also appears to give birth to its pups in small estuaries along the shoreline. This makes the young quite vulnerable.

The IUCN does not yet have a classification on this creature, presumably due to lack of sufficient data.

Species Sharing Its Range

                           

     Barnacle                     American Lobster                   Hagfish

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