Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Sphyrnidae
Genus: Sphyrna
Species: Sphyrna lewini

The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a hammerhead shark with a scalloped front edge to its head that often schools in large groups. The wide head spreads out its eyes and electrical sensors to help it find prey.

It grows to about 3-4 m and feeds on fish and squid. It is classed as Critically Endangered due to overfishing.

In the Philippines it is rarely seen, mainly at remote offshore reefs and seamounts with strong currents.

Photo: Michael Bommerer, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist