The scalloped hammerhead shark is a highly predatory species that feeds primarily on fish, squid, and stingrays. It is easily identifiable by its distinctively flattened head, which extends into hammer-like lobes on each side. These sharks can grow to be quite large, with the average length being around 6 feet, but they can reach up to 20 feet in length. In fact, the Florida record for a scalloped hammerhead shark is an impressive 991 pounds. However, it is often mistaken for the larger and much less abundant great hammerhead shark. One key distinguishing feature is the scalloped hammerhead’s curved backside of the head, which differs from the straight edge found on the great hammerhead. Despite their impressive size and predatory behavior, scalloped hammerhead sharks are not considered a significant danger to humans, as they generally avoid contact with people.
