Hammerhead sharks are among the most amazing and fearsome inhabitants of the ocean depths. Their appearance resembles that of someone who took a skull and stretched it sideways, resulting in a head shaped like a hammer, while the body resembles its handle. Consequently, the eyes are positioned at opposite ends of the skull, and the distance between them in a giant six-meter hammerhead shark can reach a full meter.
But why does this fish, primarily found in warm tropical waters, need such an unusual head shape in the course of evolution?
As explained in his article in The Conversation, Gavin Naylor, director of the shark research program at the University of Florida (USA), the hammer-shaped head provides sharks with three key advantages:
Wide field of vision. When the eyes are positioned at a significant distance from each other, this provides a view of almost 360 degrees. As a result, hammerhead sharks are able to see everything happening both above and below them, allowing for quick reactions to prey and potential threats.
Plenty of space for “Ampullae of Lorenzini.” The ampullae of Lorenzini are specialized sensory organs found in sharks and rays. These structures, resembling narrow pores on the fish's body, allow them to detect electric fields and respond to the slightest changes in their intensity. Thanks to the ampullae of Lorenzini, sharks can locate prey hidden beneath the sand on the ocean floor. In hammerhead sharks, the ampullae of Lorenzini are located on the underside of their elongated head, enabling more precise detection of the victim's location.
Excellent maneuverability. The hammer-shaped body allows sharks to maneuver easily in a viscous aquatic environment, maintaining balance and making sharp turns to capture prey.
There are also suggestions that the unusual head shape enhances the sharks' ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field. This helps them navigate well during long migrations over great distances.
Leave a comment