| Photo |
Winghead shark
No image of Winghead shark found in the Shark Database
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| Range Map |
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| Systematics |
Phylum: Vertebates (Chordata)
Class: Carlilagenous Fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order: Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)
Family: Bonnethead sharks (Sphyrnidae)
Genus: Eusphyra (Eusphyra)
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| Name |
| Scientific: | Eusphyra blochii |
| German: | Flügelkopf-Hammerhai |
| English: | Winghead shark, Slender Hammerhead |
| French: | Requin-marteau planeur |
| Spanish: | Cornuda planeadora |
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| Appearance |
Hammerhead shark with a huge hammer that is broad, wing-shaped, and nearly half of the shark"s total length. Nostrils greatly enlarged. Origin of first dorsal fin over midbase of pectoral fins. Upper precaudal pit is longitudinal and not crescentic.
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| Coloration |
Light brown upper body, white ventral surface.
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| Distribution |
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Thailand. Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, Australia.
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| Biology |
A little-known species, lives preferably in shallow waters over the continental and insular shelves.
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| Feeding |
Probably small fishes and invertebrates (cephalopods, crustaceans).
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| Size |
Maximum total length about 150 cm, average size between 120 cm and 140 cm.
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| Reproduction |
Viviparous, with yolksac-placenta (gives birth to live young). 6 to 11 pups per litter. Gestation period around 8 months.
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| Similar Species |
Unmistakable.
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| Endangerment |
Status in the IUCN
Red List(Version 2001):
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| Main criterion: |
 NT (Near Threatened) |
| Sub criterion: |
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| Trend: |
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| Danger to Humans |
Harmless.
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