New Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Now on View

August 29, 2018

A juvenile female scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) made its official debut at the Aquarium of the Pacific on August 29 in the Aquarium’s 40-foot holding aquarium at the Molina Animal Care Center. This is the first time the Aquarium is home to a scalloped hammerhead shark.

The scalloped hammerhead juvenile currently measures about 3 feet in length but can grow to about 10 to 14 feet long when fully mature. This shark species subsists on mainly a diet of fish and invertebrates. Scalloped hammerhead sharks are typically found in temperate and tropical waters and are flexible and agile, making them excellent predators. They grow rapidly when they are young and can reach a weight of 340 pounds. This species’ hammer-like head shape increases the surface area for the shark’s sensory systems, such as vision and electroreceptors, and also provides lift as the shark swims through the water.