Smooth Hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus 1758)


Other Names: Common Hammerhead Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Hammerheaded Shark, Smooth Hammerhead Shark

A Smooth Hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena, from Papakura Channel, Manukau Harbour, New Zealand. Source: Clinton Duffy / FishBase. License: CC BY Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
A hammerhead species with the front margin of the head curved forward with no median indentation. Body olive-green to dark greyish-brown above, white below, with dusky pectoral-fin tips. Teeth finely serrated.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2019, Sphyrna zygaena in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1970

Smooth Hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus 1758)

More Info


Distribution

Widespread in Australia from the Coral Sea off Innisfail, Queensland, around the south to about Barrow Island, Western Australia; also at Lord Howe Island and Norfolk island in the Tasman Sea. Prefers relatively shallow waters on the continental shelf, including coastal waters, bays and estuaries..

Conservation

  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Vulnerable
  • CITES Listed: Appendix II
  • Author

    Bray, D.J. 2019

    Smooth Hammerhead, Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus 1758)

    References


    Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

    Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

    Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(2) 251-655 pp.

    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.

    Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

    Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2

    Gallagher A.J., D. S. Shiffman & S. T. Giery (2014). Evolved for Extinction: The Cost and Conservation Implications of Specialization in Hammerhead Sharks, BioScience, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biu071

    Gilbert, C.R. 1967. A revision of the hammerhead sharks (family Sphyrnidae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 119(3539): 1-88 pls 1-10.

    Glover, C.J.M. 1994. Family Sphyrnidae. pp. 138-141 figs 108-111 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

    Harry, A.V., Macbeth,W.G., Gutteridge, A.N. & Simpfendorfer, C.A. 2011. The life histories of endangered hammerhead sharks (Carcharhiniformes, Sphyrnidae) from the east coast of Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 78: 2026–2051.

    Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.

    Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

    Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

    Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

    Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per Regna tria Naturae, secundem Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentis, Synonymis, Locis. Tom.1 Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii 824 pp.

    Macbeth, W.G., Vandenberg, M. & Graham, K.J. 2008. Identifying Sharks and Rays; a Guide for Commercial Fishers. Sydney : New South Wales Department of Primary Industry 71 pp.

    Pepperell, J. 2010. Fishes of the Open Ocean a Natural History & Illustrated Guide. Sydney : University of New South Wales Press Ltd 266 pp.

    White, W. 2008. Shark Families Heterodontidae to Pristiophoridae. pp. 32-100 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

  • Quick Facts


    CAAB Code:37019004

    Conservation:IUCN Vulnerable; CITES Listed

    Depth:0-80 m

    Fishing:Fished for their fins

    Habitat:Pelagic

    Max Size:400 cm TL

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