Scalloped Hammerhead
Scalloped HammerheadScalloped HammerheadScalloped HammerheadScalloped Hammerhead

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Isla del Coco National Park
9 Verified records at Isla del Coco National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a Scalloped Hammerhead sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Isla del Coco National Park

Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

90–100% · Very likely
Galápagos Shark

Galápagos Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Insufficient data
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus albimarginatus

Insufficient data
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus melanopterus

Insufficient data
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Galeocerdo cuvier

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

90–100
Jan
90–100
Feb
50–60
Mar
70–80
Apr
60–70
May
40–50
Jun
40–50
Jul
80–90
Aug
70–80
Sep
70–80
Oct
60–70
Nov
70–80
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
70–80%
2 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
40–50%
3 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
4 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Scalloped Hammerhead in Isla del Coco National Park?

About 71% of wildlife watchers report a Scalloped Hammerhead sighting in Isla del Coco National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Scalloped Hammerhead in Isla del Coco National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Scalloped Hammerhead in Isla del Coco National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Isla del Coco National Park