Species: Sphyrna gilberti, Carolina hammerhead shark


Sphyrna gilberti Quattro et al, 2013
Carolina hammerhead shark
Head with broad hammer (width 24-30% of TL), narrow-bladed side extensions on the head; front margin of head broadly convex, and scalloped due to a prominent middle indentation, a more conspicuous notch near the end of each side of the hammer (which sets off the end lobe bearing the eye), and a slight indentation in front margin between the central and side notches on each side; teeth smooth; front teeth blade-like, with 1 point, upper teeth oblique, deeply notched on rear side, lower teeth straight, rear teeth like front teeth; five gill slits, last one over pectoral; first dorsal fin moderately large and erect, free rear tip not reaching level of pelvic origin; 2nd dorsal fin low but long, free rear tip nearly reaching caudal fin; base of anal fin noticeably longer than that of second dorsal fin; pelvics with ~ straight rear edge; transverse pit above tail base crescent shaped, a pit below tail base; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, notched under tip of top lobe, large lower lobe.
Grey-brown above, fading to white below; underside tip of pectoral white to dusky (60% of fish dusky); lower lobe of tail fin with dusky to black tip.
Size: at least 45cm, but undoubtedly much larger
Habitat: coastal.
Depth: 0-50 m.
Currently known only from South Carolina
Note: Genetically distinct from S lewini; currently the only morphological feature that distinguishes these two is the number of vertebrae on the trunk of the body: 85 (83-91) in S gilberti, 95 (92-99) in S lewini

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Hypersaline
- Brackish
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Bottom + water column
- Near Bottom
- Habitat
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- Water column
- Estuary
- FishBase Habitat
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- Bentho-Pelagic
- Feeding Group
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- Data
- Carnivore
- Diet
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- Bony fishes
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Mobile benthic worms
- Sharks/rays
- Data
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Live birth
- No pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species.
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- All species..
- Continent
- GC endemic
- Continent only
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- IUCN Red List
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- Critically endangered
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 45
- Depth Range Min
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- 0
- Depth Range Max
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- 50