Species: Sphyrna tudes, Golden Hammerhead, Golden Hammerhead Shark, Smalleye Hammerhead

Sphyrna tudes (Valenciennes, 1822)

Golden Hammerhead, Smalleye Hammerhead, Golden Hammerhead Shark

Head broad, mallet shaped, its front broadly arched, a deep depression at center, smaller rounded depressions opposite each eye; lateral expansion of head prominent, side to side and front to back; eyes small (diameter much less than length of gill slits), rear margin of eye well in front of mouth; nostrils with long prenasal grooves across front of head; mouth large, broadly arched; front teeth blade-like, smooth, rear teeth like front teeth; lower teeth straight, upper teeth oblique, deeply notched on rear side; five gill slits, last one over pectoral; first dorsal fin high, erect, origin over inner pectoral margin, rear free tip slender, ends over or behind pelvic origin; second dorsal height ¼ of first, free rear tip ends well before tail base pit; anal fin base about twice that of second dorsal base, rear margin shallowly concave; pectoral fins short, broad; rear margin of pelvic fin straight.

Bright yellow to orange, with metallic hues.

Size: 148 cm.

Habitat: Inshore, in estuaries.

Depth: 9-50 m.

Colombia to Uruguay.