They move around pretty freely and can be seen practically anywhere due to their capacity to thrive on dusty plains, kelp forests, fresh along with saltwater waters, and intertidal areas. There are more sharks in the Florida Keys than anywhere else on Earth. The waters of Florida are home to a variety of hammerhead species. The majority of them are 5 to 12 feet tall and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Hammerheads are typically timid, but when prey is around, they can become extremely violent. These sharks can hunt down meals at a great distance thanks to their T-shaped heads. Depending on the kind of shark, hammers can be found in high numbers and are strong, quick swimmers. Fish and stingrays are among hammerheads’ preferred prey animals. A popular excursion for tourists in Key West is guided water tours. A trained guide will show you around the area on a boat and you just might get the chance to spot one of these beautiful sharks. A Youtube short shows just how clear the water is and how close hammerheads can get to the surface.
Getting a Name
The great hammerhead shark is the largest of the nine hammerhead shark species that exist around the globe. The largest known hammerhead was 20 feet long and weighed more than 950 pounds, compared to the average hammerhead’s seven feet in length. When a hammerhead shark is young, its head is spherical; however, as it gets older, the head “flattens,” taking on a rectangular appearance. This head’s peculiar shape has two suggested uses and benefits. First, they have practically 360-degree vision because of the positioning of their eyeballs on either side. Second, they benefit from additional sensory benefits given by the large hammer-shaped head. Ampullae of Lorenzini, or sensory pores, are present in all sharks. Sharks can “see” the electrical charges that moving animals emit thanks to these pores. Hammerhead sharks are substantially more observant than other shark species because they have more pores spread across a larger area. The forms and colors of the majority of hammerhead shark species are comparable. They are occasionally green in tone and have a grey hue. They have countershading colors to assist them in camouflaging, like many oceanic animals. In order to fit in with the murky depths and the bright surface of the water, an animal may be darker on top and lighter underneath.
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