Get to know your Aussie hammerheads!

Australia’s oceans are home to four incredible hammerhead species!

1. Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)

The largest of all hammerheads, reaching up to six metres long. They are found in tropical coastal waters, although sometimes can be seen as far south as Perth during summer. It has a distinctive tall, curved dorsal fin and is a solitary species.

Great hammerheads are Critically Endangered due to bycatch and finning.

2. Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)

Recognisable by its scalloped head edges, this species thrives in warm coastal and open waters. It’s the most common hammerhead in Western Australia and is known for forming spectacular aggregations (groups), including one right here at Point Peron near Perth!

Sadly, it’s also listed as Critically Endangered due to overfishing.

3. Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)

True to its name, the smooth hammerhead has no notches on the central section of its head when they reach adulthood. Smooth hammerheads are comfortable in cooler waters and are often found in southern Australia. These sharks sometimes form large schools during summer.

The smooth hammerhead is listed as Vulnerable as its population is decreasing.

Smooth hammerhead (S. zygaena) - Saxon Nelson-Milton - CC-BY-NC 4.0.

4. Winghead Shark (Eusphyra blochii)

The most unusual of the group, its head can span half its body length! Wingheads live in tropical, shallow coastal waters of northern Australia but is rarely seen.

This species is listed as Critically Endangered.

The image below was taken during a scientific tagging project, the shark was released alive after data collection.

All four species are predators that help keep marine ecosystems in balance.

Protecting them means protecting the health of Australia’s oceans.

Hammerheads of Australia - BRUVS footage of scalloped, smooth, and great hammerheads from our BRUVS field surveys.

HAMMERHEADS OF AUSTRALIA

All four species are predators that help keep marine ecosystems in balance.

Protecting them means protecting the health of Australia’s oceans.