At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The scalloped hammerhead is a wide-ranging shark with a distinctive hammer-shaped head. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Young sharks often gather in coastal nurseries, and adults sometimes form large schools.
Range & habitat
Warm coastal and offshore waters worldwide.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing, including for the shark-fin trade
- Bycatch
Why it matters
As a heavily fished apex predator, the scalloped hammerhead is a flagship for shark conservation and for tackling the fin trade.
Sources
Sources for Scalloped Hammerhead
- IUCN Red List — look up Scalloped Hammerhead (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do hammerheads have such strange heads?
The wide, flattened head (cephalofoil) is thought to improve sensory perception and manoeuvrability, helping the shark detect and track prey.
Why is the scalloped hammerhead Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing — including demand for fins — and bycatch. Hammerheads are particularly vulnerable because of their fins. See the IUCN Red List.
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