Females tend to be larger than males. 2005. Accessed July 4, 2012. They live in shallow bays and estuaries. Bonnethead sharks are about 2 feet long on average and grow to a maximum length of about 5 feet. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. It is found in tropical and subtropical waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Peru, and possibly as far north as the Gulf of California. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. Typically, bonnethead sharks are about 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) long, with a maximum size of about 5 ft (150 cm). These sharks need to swim continuously to supply fresh oxygen to their gills. The mouth is small and strongly arched. After their prey is crushed, it is suctioned into the shark's esophagus. The bonnethead shark sinks if it does not keep moving, since hammerhead sharks are among the most negatively buoyant of marine vertebrates. The varied diet of bonnethead sharks includes crabs, shrimps, bivalves, snails, and some small bony fishes; however, they are also known to eat seagrasses. (2005). Bonnetheads also ingest large amounts of seagrass, which has been found to make up around 62.1% of gut content mass. There are 4 to 16 pups born in each litter. [3], Probably the smallest species of hammerhead shark, the scalloped bonnethead measures up to 92 cm long. Species Status Native; View All Species; Distinguishing Characteristics. [1] It is found in tropical and subtropical waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Peru, and possibly as far north as the Gulf of California. Its other common names include the mallethead shark and the crown shark. The body is grey-brown above and lighter on the underside. Bonnetheads have a grayish-brown or gray back that often has dark spots and a white underside. These sharks may be caught for display in aquariums and used for human consumption and for making fishmeal. Females typically are larger than males. The bonnethead shark, also known as the shovelhead (Sphyrna tiburo) is an abundant species of hammerhead shark found along the coasts of the temperate and tropical waters of the Americas which are generally warmer than 70 °F (21 °C). The bonnethead shark is found in tropical and subtropical waters on both coasts of North America, from North Carolina to southern Brazil—including the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico—and from Southern California to Ecuador. The species appear to be omnivorous, the only known case of plant feeding in sharks. [4] A 2018 study with a carbon isotope-labelled seagrass diet found that they could digest seagrass with at least moderate efficiency, with 50±2% digestibility of seagrass organic matter, and had cellulose-component-degrading enzyme activity in their hindgut.[5][6]. Bonnethead sharks are currently managed as two stocks in the USA owing to recent genetic, tagging, and life history studies; however, no stock assessments or management plans exist for Mexico. [citation needed] To accommodate the many types of animals on which it feeds, the bonnethead shark has small, sharp teeth in the front of the mouth (for grabbing soft prey) and flat, broad molars in the back (for crushing hard-shelled prey). It lives in estuaries and shallow bays with mud or sand bottoms and in coral reefs. The bonnethead shark or sshovelhead (Sphyrna tiburo) is a small member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. The bonnethead shark is viviparous. Head is broadly widened into the shape of a shovel; Front of head NOT notched at midline ; Back is gray or grayish-brown in color; Sides may have small dark spots; No interdorsal ridge; Similar Species: Other hammerhead sharks obtain larger size and have hammer-shaped heads. (2008). Four to 12 pups are born in late summer and early fall, measuring 12 to 13 in (300 to 330 mm). The smaller cephalofoil of a bonnethead shark is not as successful, so they have to rely on the combination of cephalofoils and their large pectoral fins for most of their motility. These results not only serve to reinforce US management strategies and provide critical data about the extent of gene flow and sex dispersal among populations, but also begin the process of … More About the Bonnethead Shark . ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Bonnetheads have one of the shortest gestation periods among sharks, lasting only 4.5–5.0 months. These sharks have a unique two-phase jaw closing. Jennifer Kennedy, M.S., is an environmental educator specializing in marine life. The scalloped bonnethead (Sphyrna corona) is a rare, little-known species of hammerhead shark, and part of the family Sphyrnidae.Its other common names include the mallethead shark and the crown shark. Bonnethead sharks are the only sharks known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head. [2], Like other hammerheads, the scalloped bonnethead is viviparous, with presumably two pups per litter. Males are smaller than females. During development inside the mother, the uterus becomes separated into compartments that house each embryo and its yolk sac. Compagno, L., Dando, M. and S. Fowler. The daily bag limit is 1 fish for all allowable shark species including Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead. Its feeding behavior involves swimming across the seafloor, moving its head in arc patterns like a metal detector, looking for minute electromagnetic disturbances produced by crabs and other creatures hiding in the sediment. The head shape of the bonnethead may help it more easily find prey. [2] It feeds on or near the bottom, on crustaceans, molluscs, cephalopods, echinoderms, and bony fishes.[3]. The similar scoophead (Sphyrna media) can be distinguished by a shorter snout, a broader mouth, and a deeply concave anal fin margin. [citation needed], This species occurs off the American coast, in regions where the water is usually warmer than 70 °F (21 °C). The shark feeds primarily on crustaceans, consisting mostly of blue crabs, but also shrimp, mollusks, and small fish. [2] It frequents inshore habitats over soft bottoms (mud, sand, and gravel) to a depth of 100 m, and also enters mangroves and estuaries. Bonnetheads … The front margin is broadly arched, with shallow lateral and medial indentations, and no prenarial grooves. Body usually has several prominent white spots; second … They move constantly following changes in water temperature and to maintain respiration. These sharks need to swim continuously to supply fresh oxygen to their gills. Fish caught off the Channel 5 Bridge (MM 71.4), Florida Keys, Florida, January 2017. This menu of primarily hard … Bonnethead sharks are listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List, which says that they have one of "highest population growth rates calculated for sharks" and that despite fishing, the species is abundant. Bonnethead Shark, Sphyrna tiburo. It frequents inshore habitats over soft bottoms (mud, … It is heavily targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries and constitutes up to 50% of all small shark landings in the Eastern US. Bonnetheads have a grayish-brown or gray back that often has dark spots and a white underside. It is an abundant species on the American littoral, is the only shark species known to display sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head, and is the only shark species known to be omnivorous. Length: 1.11 m (3 ft 8 in). If a crab is caught, the bonnethead shark uses its teeth to grind its carapace and then uses suction to swallow. The bonnethead shark is an active tropical shark that swims in small groups of five to 15 individuals, although schools of hundreds or even thousands have been reported. She serves as the executive director of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. [citation needed], Using data from mtDNA analysis, a scientist has found that the evolution of hammerhead sharks probably began with a taxon that had a highly pronounced cephalofoil (most likely that similar to the winghead shark, Eusphyra blochii), and was later modified through selective pressures. [1], Learn how and when to remove this template message, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T39387A2921446.en, "This Shark Eats Grass, and No One Knows Why", "Seagrass digestion by a notorious 'carnivore, "First known omnivorous shark species identified", Species Description of Sphyrna tiburo at www.shark-references.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonnethead&oldid=985883101, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [7], The bonnethead is an abundant species and is currently classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN. Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (lifelistfishing.com), Gaylord, MI. Bonnethead sharks are considered harmless to humans. The bonnethead shark sinks if it does not keep moving, since hammerhead sharks are among the most negatively buoyant of marine vertebrates. Diet. The birth took place at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska; DNA analysis showed a perfect match between mother and pup. The bonnethead has a shovel-shaped head with a smooth edge. These are social sharks that are most often found in groups numbering from 3 up to 15 sharks. Its coloration is gray above and white below, with no prominent fin markings. Compared to other hammerheads, bonnethead sharks have larger and more developed pectoral fins and are the only species of hammerhead to actively use pectoral fins for swimming. These sharks are viviparous... meaning that they give birth to live young in shallow waters after a 4- to 5-month gestation period, which is the shortest known for all sharks. [2], The pectoral fins on most fish control pitching (up-and-down motion of the body), yawing (the side-to-side motion), and rolling. It may be taken by local inshore fisheries, but data are lacking. Bonnetheads feed mostly in the daytime. This bulge is formed by the elongation of the rostral cartilages of the males at the onset of sexual maturity and corresponds temporally with the elongation of the clasper cartilages. [1], A bonnethead female produced a pup by parthenogenesis. Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks must be used when fishing for sharks in state waters. Adult females are commonly about 0.7-1 m (2.3-3.3 ft) in length, reaching a maximum of 1.5 m (5 ft). Atlantic Sharpnose, Blacktip and Bonnethead Sharks Atlantic Sharpnose. [citation needed], It frequents shallow estuaries and bays over seagrass, mud, and sandy bottoms.[1]. Characterized by a broad, smooth, spade-like head, it has the smallest cephalofoil (hammerhead) of all Sphyrna species. … Sharks of the World. The bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo), also known as the bonnet shark, bonnet nose shark, and shovelhead shark is one of nine species of hammerhead sharks. These sharks all have a unique hammer or shovel-shaped heads. The anal fin is long and has a nearly straight rear margin. Bonnethead sharks are about 2 feet long on average and grow to a maximum length of about 5 feet. Bonnethead sharks eat primarily crustaceans (especially blue crabs), but will also eat small fish, bivalves, and cephalopods. During the summer, it is common in the inshore waters of the Carolinas and Georgia; in spring, summer, and fall, it is found off Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. In the winter, the bonnethead shark is found closer to the equator, where the water is warmer. The scalloped bonnethead (Sphyrna corona) is a rare, little-known species of hammerhead shark, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. A 2009 study found that bonnethead sharks have a nearly 360-degree vision and excellent depth perception. They move constantly following changes in water temperature and to maintain respiration. Bonnethead sharks prefer water temperatures over 70 F and make seasonal migrations to warmer waters during the winter months.

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