Ravings of a Royal Sharpedo

Hello, fellow readers!

I know most of you are not familiar with my blog series entitled "Steps into Oblivion", and no wonder, because this is only the second one of them and a long time has passed... Anyway, feel free to read (and comment) the first step!

So, dear readers, today we'll talk about sharks...but not all sharks, or I could very well stay there typing for days straight. Instead, I'll talk you about the shark species which intrigues me the most...

I'll give you a hint before you open the spoiler below. Some call it the ugliest fish of the "seven seas"!

© Brian J. Skerry
The Great Hammerhead Shark

The great hammerhead is the largest of the 9 species of hammerhead sharks and is reported to reach up to 6.1 m (about 20′) in length and weigh up to 449.5 kg (about 990 lbs). This species can be easily identified by its nearly rectangular head.

Rectangular hammer, and loving it.
© Sabrina Monsalve/Marine Photobank

Please refer to the following image to better understand the great hammerhead's anatomy.



These sharks are aggressive hunters, feeding on smaller fish, octopuses, squid, and crustaceans. They do not actively seek out human prey, but are very defensive and will attack when provoked.

Note the sharp teeth.
Source

The great hammerhead swims in warm and relatively warm water along the coastlines, over the continental shelves, island terraces, and in passes and lagoons. Due to these required conditions, they can be found in tropical and sub-tropical waters worldwide.



The great hammerheads are viviparous*, giving birth to live young. The 20-40 pups are roughly 70 cm (about 27') long at birth. Larger females have larger litters.

*Viviparity means that the eggs hatch inside the female's body and the babies are fed by her placenta.

Outrageous! Bite the hand, bite the hand!
Source

Great hammerhead meat is sold for human consumption (fresh, fresh-frozen, dried-salted, and smoked), its liver oil for vitamins, fins for soup, hides for leather, and carcasses for fishmeal. I doubt it is easy to fish one, though!

Sources

Also good places to expand your knowledge of this subject.

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/species/Hammerhead.shtml
• http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=87
• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/fish/hammerhead-shark/
• http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_12239.htm

Now, time for me to ask you some things, fellow readers!

• Did you like to read this little TL;DR about The Great Hammershark?
  
• Do you want another article of this kind about other animals?
  
• If you answered "yes" to the above question, is there any animal you would REALLY like read about in an article of this kind?

Thanks for reading, and please comment!

From your friend at the Oblivion,
ghaskan.