Sphyma Lewini
Hammerhead sharks are very distinctive looking creatures whose heads have evolved to look like a hammer, elongated to the sides with the eyes positioned at either end. Probably the most common species of hammerhead is the Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyma Lewini), so called because of the central indentation and arched front edge on the “hammer”. Scalloped Hammerheads average 12-14 feet long. They regularly feed on fish such as sardines, herring and mackerel.
Is it nature day or something?
Comment by Jazz — August 27, 2003 @ 9:05 pm
Hey - you have your castles, I have my fish.
Anyway, just because I didn’t announce that it was fish week doesn’t make it any less so.
Comment by Tom — August 28, 2003 @ 8:55 am
Farkin scary creatures. Mind you I pass out at the sight of a jellyfish in the water next to me.
Comment by pogo — August 28, 2003 @ 11:55 am
oh I don’t know. Hammerhead sharks are only dangerous if you happen to be a sardine or some other type of fish
I’d love to swim with sharks, it would be absolutely amazing.
Comment by Eliza — August 28, 2003 @ 1:58 pm
Great Hammerhead sharks are dangerous to humans, but as with virtually all other sharks (the notable expceptions being Tiger, Bull & Great White) sharks won’t attack humans unless under a specific set of circumstances. In the case of divers, there are very few recorded attacks and most of those are when a shark has been scared, cornered or hassled. They’re very much like dogs really. Except cooler.
Comment by Tom — August 28, 2003 @ 3:12 pm
I definately recall a documentary saying that Hammerhead Sharks were no threat to humans unless they themselves felt threatended, in which case its a self defence mechanism. I mean tell me if I’m wrong, I do tend to watch too many documentaries on marine biology and such like
Comment by Eliza — August 28, 2003 @ 5:56 pm
No, you’re right. Like (nearly) all sharks, they won’t attack humans unless threatened. But it’s only Great Hammerheads which are particularly dangerous because of their size. They’re also the most predatory of the Hammerhead species.
Comment by Tom — August 28, 2003 @ 11:31 pm
Cool! I have a really funny story to tell about a certain shark in a seaword centre and my mother. Well, I find it funny, but maybe another day.
Comment by Eliza — August 29, 2003 @ 12:31 pm