Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
- FamilySphyrnidae (Hammerhead and Winghead Sharks)
- GenusSphyrna (Hammerhead Sharks)
- SpeciesSphyrna lewini (Scalloped Hammerhead)
The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is a species of hammerhead shark in the family Sphyrnidae. It was originally known as Zygaena lewini. The Greek word sphyrna translates into "hammer" in English, referring to the shape of this shark's head, which is its most distinguishing characteristic. The shark's eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the extensions. It is a fairly large hammerhead, but is still smaller than both the great and smooth hammerheads. This shark is also known as the bronze, kinky-headed, or southern hammerhead. Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Scalloped Hammerhead sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 151 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Requiem shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Galápagos Shark
Carcharhinus galapagensis
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
Silky Shark
Carcharhinus falciformis
spotted houndshark
Triakis maculata
White-margin Fin Hound Shark
Mustelus albipinnis
Silvertip Shark
Carcharhinus albimarginatus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isla del Coco National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Scalloped Hammerhead in Galápagos Islands?
About 42% of wildlife watchers report a Scalloped Hammerhead sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 151 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Scalloped Hammerhead in Galápagos Islands?
March has the highest sighting rate for Scalloped Hammerhead in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.