Scalloped Hammerhead (species: Sphyrna lewini) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Sphyrna lewini
Scalloped Hammerhead


©Natalie Haddad: Sphyrna lewini at Big Vicki's Reef, Lizard Island. Estimated length is at least 3 metres.

©Natalie Haddad: Sphyrna lewini at Big Vicki's Reef, Lizard Island. Estimated length is at least 3 metres.

©Tara Stephens: Sphyrna lewini off Turtle Beach, Lizard Island
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Sphyrnidae
Genus Sphyrna
Species Sphyrna lewini
Status endangered

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

This species of hammerhead often forms groups and it occurs around islands as well as in open water. The head has a distinct central indentation with a less distinct indentation on either side. (Allen et al, 2003)

Size

  • Up to 400 cm (Length of specimen)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Comments

Alison Rickert (formerly Alison Domm) lived at LIRS when it was being developed between 1973 and 1975. She reported in 2015 that a group of three hammerheads was seen frequently in shallow water off Casuarina Beach in the early days; one small, one medium and one very large. It is likely that they were Sphyrna lewini.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island: Rarely seen but probably present most of the time.

Web resources

Danger

  • unspecified - This species is not generally considered dangerous (Allen et al, 2003)