Winghead Shark, Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier 1816)

Other Names: Slender Hammerhead

Summary:

A hammerhead shark with a very wide, narrow wing-like head that has small bumps along the edges in front of the nostrils, short triangular-shaped pectoral fins and teeth with smooth edges.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2019, Eusphyra blochii in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3143

Winghead Shark, Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier 1816)

More Info

Distribution	Recorded in Australian waters from the Monte Bello Islands, Western Australia, to about Ingham, Queensland. Elsewhere, the species is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific from the Arabian Gulf through south Asia, Indonesia and China to northern Australia. Inhabits shallow inshore and continental shelf waters, occasionally entering estuaries.
Feeding	Feeds on bony fishes, crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs.
Biology	Winghead Sharks are a slow growing species attaining a maximum known total length of 186 cm, a maximum age of 21 years with a generation length of 14 years. Females produce litters each year of up to 11 young after an 8-11 month gestation period. The pups are born at about 45 cm TL, and mature at about 110 cm TL.
Fisheries	Fished throughout its range, and particularly susceptible to being entangled in fishing nets due to the head shape. The Winged Shark comprises a small proportion of the catch in Australia.
Species Citation	Zygaena blochii Cuvier, 1816, Règne Animal 2: 127 (based on figure in Bloch, 1785). Type locality: no locality specified.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2019
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Winghead Shark, Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier 1816)

References

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Compagno, L.J.V. 1998. Family Sphyrnidae. pp. 1361-1366 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 2 687-1396 pp.

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Stevens, J.D. & Lyle, J.M. 1989. Biology of three hammerhead sharks (Eusphyra blochii, Sphyrna mokarran and S. lewini) form Northern Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 40: 129–146.

White, W.T., P.R. Last, J.D. Stevens, G.K. Yearsley, Fahmi & Dharmadi. 2006. Economically important sharks and rays of Indonesia. [Hiu dan pari yang bernilai ekonomis penting di Indonesia]. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia.