Distinguishing Characteristics |
Body elongate, laterally compressed; head flattened dorsoventrally, shovel-shaped, evenly rounded with no indentations, lateral expansions short; 1st dorsal fin high and narrow; 2nd dorsal fin smaller than 1st; teeth small and smooth, rear teeth molar-like; color gray above, pale to white below. |
Similar Species |
Other hammerheads have hammer-shaped heads where lateral extensions are longer, the contour of the head has indentations (smooth in bonnetheads). |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay, sandy or muddy bottoms, coral reefs |
Maximum Size |
150 cm (5 ft), common to 80 cm (31 1/2 in) |
Fin Element Counts |
none (explain) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
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Comments |
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State size/bag limits |
Minimum size 24 in.; bag limit is 1 shark/day, including sharpnose, blacktips, bonnetheads, and all other allowable shark species; See Shark Regulations; Check for state record. |