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.
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
-
Animalia:
Great Hammerhead Shark (species: Sphyrna mokarran)
No indentations on front of head; solitary and oceanic, not usually found around reefs (Allen et al, 2003).
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)