Hammerhead Shark

ocean · sharks · super senses

Hammer head. Hammerhead sharks are named for their flat, wide heads, which scientists call a 'cephalofoil.' Their eyes sit on the very ends of this T-shaped structure.

Amazing eyesight. Having eyes spread so far apart gives hammerheads superb depth perception and a huge field of vision to spot their next meal.

Built-in detectors. Their wide head has lots of room for electroreceptors, special sensors that detect the tiny electric signals given off by hidden prey.

Small mouth. Despite their big, dramatic heads, hammerheads have small mouths centered right underneath the cephalofoil.

A whole family. Hammerheads form a group called Sphyrnidae. Most species belong to the genus Sphyrna, but the winghead shark gets its own genus, Eusphyra.