Hammerhead sharks & their heads

Here's a question I'm sure we've all wondered about: Why do hammerhead sharks have such a famously strange-shaped head?



One idea is that having eyes on either side of a wide 'hammer' allows the sharks to see better. But many argue that it makes it harder to see. Debate over why hammerheads are shaped as they are goes back centuries, and arguments over their visual capabilities goes back decades.

The mystery may now be solved by a study showing that a hammerhead gives sharks outstanding binocular vision and an ability to see through 360 degrees. (This finding is published in the Journal of Experimental Biology).



These results were part of a study to measure binocular and frontal vision of sharks. They placed a variety of shark species, each with a different shaped head, into an aquarium tank. Then they placed sensors on the shark's skin to measure its brain activity, specifically testing whether the animal would react to beams of light shone from different locations around the tank. By doing so, they could measure each shark's field of vision.

"This study confirmed that hammerhead sharks have anterior binocular vision," says Dr McComb (one of the researchers in the study). “That means they can see directly ahead while swimming and can accurately judge distance, particularly to any prey they hunt.”

The results surprised the researchers. "I believed hammerheads would not have binocular vision, because their eyes were pointing out on the sides of the head," admits Dr McComb. "However, it turns out that the positioning of the eyes was really the key." The eyes of hammerhead sharks are tilted slightly forward, she says, allowing the field of vision of each to significantly overlap.

"This study has confirmed that vision may have played a role in the evolution of one of the ocean's most bizarre inhabitants," Dr McComb says. "This has been a scientific question which has persisted since hammerheads were first described over 200 years ago."

Pretty cool findings indeed...and yes I was surprised by them too

Also the most deadly, Those sharks reaked havoc on the USS Inianapolis in WW2. I could not imagine thier fate till I saw the Documentary on the way they hunt, in packs.

Interesting read kinda weird but they are pretty interesting.

That's so cool. I've heard before that their head shape also allows very precise maneuvering in the sand bed to scavenge for quick moving prey, like they use it as a kind of fin, but the vision thing actually makes more sense.

Originally Posted by Reefdaddy

Also the most deadly, Those sharks reaked havoc on the USS Inianapolis in WW2. I could not imagine thier fate till I saw the Documentary on the way they hunt, in packs.

yes...they are absolutely one of the most deadly

Originally Posted by spinycheek

That's so cool. I've heard before that their head shape also allows very precise maneuvering in the sand bed to scavenge for quick moving prey, like they use it as a kind of fin, but the vision thing actually makes more sense.

that's one of the hypothesis scientists have argued for years...turns out that while it does help with prey, their head shape really is for vision...just think it's so cool!

it's for locating and digging out prey in the sandbed. have to disagree with the "experts" though, it does hinder their straight vision but if you've ever watched them swim, they compensate.


the light test is garbage, QED ( Quantum Elctrodynamics ) easily dispels their theories, but that whole different thread............ forum............web site............. state of mind

well, i did read that hammerheads make sharper turns than any other shark can, which is probably a function of the odd shaped head. my wife was diving in belize a few years ago and a pretty big one [10-12 feet] got fairly close to the divers, then swam away.

Crazy stuff, I wouldn't want to swim with them.

I would!! Sharks are nice, it's those damn tetradonts that scare me. The puffers and triggers are sooooooo mean!!! And when they're 2 feet long, they're down right terrors. The sharks never gave me any flack when diving though, they're pretty shy, but I guess I've never swam with hammerheads specifically.

First off hammers are amazing , and yes i would be in the water with them .


But a friggin great white "white pointer" No $$%^ way !!

Also come visit Spiny
Ill let you swim with big sharks

How many can I fit in my 4 footer and is it clam safe??

Originally Posted by a4twenty

it's for locating and digging out prey in the sandbed. have to disagree with the "experts" though, it does hinder their straight vision but if you've ever watched them swim, they compensate.


the light test is garbage, QED ( Quantum Elctrodynamics ) easily dispels their theories, but that whole different thread............ forum............web site............. state of mind

Thats what ive read.

Originally Posted by shmoliken

well, i did read that hammerheads make sharper turns than any other shark can, which is probably a function of the odd shaped head. my wife was diving in belize a few years ago and a pretty big one [10-12 feet] got fairly close to the divers, then swam away.

Yikes! Did anyone panic and have their heads explode? (yeah...that's what locals in Mexico told me on our boat ride out to my first dive...which I traded for snorkeling...)

Originally Posted by spinycheek

I would!! Sharks are nice, it's those damn tetradonts that scare me. The puffers and triggers are sooooooo mean!!! And when they're 2 feet long, they're down right terrors. The sharks never gave me any flack when diving though, they're pretty shy, but I guess I've never swam with hammerheads specifically.

Originally Posted by Thinkin Reef

First off hammers are amazing , and yes i would be in the water with them .


But a friggin great white "white pointer" No $$%^ way !!

Originally Posted by Nick Marine

How many can I fit in my 4 footer and is it clam safe??

Originally Posted by Thinkin Reef

Also come visit Spiny
Ill let you swim with big sharks

I've been trying to get out there for years

maybe if I sold all my furniture and my car I could afford it.

LOL stay with me , i'll use you as bait of Phillip Island ! LOL
there are a few round.
Also there is a big one in the bay at the moment "at the heads" Of port phillip bay.

I don't think they'd go for me, I'm mostly just bone.