The male bonnethead attain sexual maturity at 20 to 30 inches body size, while the female reaches maturity at 33 inches or less. The Bonnethead shark is viviparous. Bonnethead sharks are the only sharks known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head. The species appear to be omnivorous, the only known case of plant feeding in sharks. The bonnethead shark or shovelhead (Sphyrna tiburo) is a small member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. Matures at approximately 2 years of age (about 3 feet) and is estimated to live 12+ years.
Length: 1.11 m (3 ft 8 in). Litters contain 4-16 pups. [3], This species occurs off the American coast, in regions where the water is usually warmer than 70 °F (21 °C). Moves into deeper coastal waters during the colder months. [citation needed], It frequents shallow estuaries and bays over seagrass, mud, and sandy bottoms.[1]. Size: Bonnetheads reach an average size of 36- 48 inches (91-122 cm),with a maximum length of approximately 59 inches (150 cm), with females reaching greater lengths than males. Partial list of allowable species includes: Bull The shark feeds primarily on crustaceans, consisting mostly of blue crabs, but also shrimp, mollusks, and small fish. Minimum size limit: 24 inches, total length. Bonnethead Shark Size The average size of the bonnethead shark is about 2-3 feet while they can grow up to 5 ft maximum. Hammerhead sharks, or sphyrnids, are perhaps the most distinctive and unique of all sharks. The maximum recorded weight of a Bonnethead is 24pounds (10.8 kg). Bonnethead sharks are the only sharks known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in … Bonnethead sharks are about 2 feet long on average and grow to a maximum length of about 5 feet. Behavior: The Bonnethead is an active tropical shark that swims in small groups of up to 15 individuals, but sometimes migrating schools of hundreds have been reported. 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. Maximum length about 4 feet. [3], Probably the smallest species of hammerhead shark, the scalloped bonnethead measures up to 92 cm long. 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. Bonnetheads have one of the shortest gestation periods among sharks, lasting only 4.5–5.0 months. Description: The Bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo) is one of the smaller species of hammerhead sharks. 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. These sharks have semi-circular shaped heads resembling a shovel or bonnet. Upon discovery, it sharply turns around and bites into the sediment where the disturbance was detected. Bonnetheads are the only known sharks to exhibit sexual dimorphism (the heads of adult males and females are different in shape). Bonnetheads are the only known sharks to exhibit sexual dimorphism (the heads of adult males and females are different in shape). Habitat/range: This species is abundant within inshore, coastal, continental and insular shelf areas within its range and commonly found in estuaries, shallow bays and channels, mud and sand flats and reef habitats. Reproduction: Viviparous, with yolksac-placenta. BONNETHEAD SHARK Sphyrna tiburo Habitat Abundant in nearshore Florida waters. In Florida Bay and Tampa Bay there was a study of two populations of bonnethead sharks. Adult females have a broadly rounded head, whereas males possess a distinct bulge along the anterior margin of the cephalofoil. 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). Hammerhead shark, (family Sphyrnidae), any of 10 shark species belonging to the genera Sphyrna (9 species) and Eusphyrna (1 species), which are characterized by a flattened hammer- or shovel-shaped head, or cephalofoil. 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. Body Color: The dorsal side is evenly greyish-brown, while the ventral side has a lighter coloration. Relatives. Rounded, shovel shaped head with no indentation at midline of snout; maximum size about 5 feet. Other Allowable Shark Species.
[2] It frequents inshore habitats over soft bottoms (mud, sand, and gravel) to a depth of 100 m, and also enters mangroves and estuaries. It is heavily targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries and constitutes up to 50% of all small shark landings in the Eastern US. Size: Average size about 80 cm to 120 cm, maximum total length about 150 cm. Size: The bonnetheads reach an average size of 3-5 feet. [8], The bonnethead is an abundant species and is currently classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN. 11 kg). 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. The maximum recorded weight of a Bonnethead is 24pounds (10.8 kg). It is a timid and a harmless shark (only one attack on humans has ever been recorded). It is a harmless, timid shark that is gray-brown above and lighter on the underside with short pectoral fins SIZE The average Bonnethead shark averages about 3.3 feet (1 … Typically, bonnethead sharks are about 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) long, with a maximum size of about 5 ft (150 cm). (2005). The Atlantic sharpnose shark is a small shark in comparison to others. They live between 8-12 years. The bonnethead shark is the smallest member of the hammerhead family. Appearance. Size: The typical length is 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) (maximum of 5 feet), with the females being usually larger. The maximum recorded weight of a bonnethead is about 24 pounds. Size/Age Smallest member of the hammerhead family. Females reach sexual maturity around 32 inches (81 cm), while males reach maturity around 24 inches (61 cm). Reproduction Gives birth to live young. [1], Learn how and when to remove this template message, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T39387A2921446.en, "Hammerhead shark study shows cascade of evolution affected size, head shape", "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=990419785, Articles needing additional references from March 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Bonnetheads have a grayish-brown or gray back that often has dark spots and a white underside. Status: Listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List. Moreover, the pup survival basically depends on size selective predation by other larger marine predators. Using data from mitochondrial DNA analysis, scientist have found that the evolution of hammerhead sharks has probably begun with a taxon that had a highly pronounced cephalofoil (most likely that similar to the winghead shark, Eusphyra blochii), and has later been modified through selective pressures. Females reach sexual maturity at about 2.8 feet, while males reach maturity around 2 feet. 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). Minimum size limit: 64 inches. At birth, baby bonnethead sharks measure around 12 to 13 inches in length. [1], A bonnethead female produced a pup by parthenogenesis. 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. If a crab is caught, the bonnethead shark uses its teeth to grind its carapace and then uses suction to swallow. They typically reproduce every year. They live 20 to 30 years, and can grow up to 20 feet in size. The shark feeds primarily on crustaceans, consisting mostly of blue crabs, but also shrimp, mollusks, and small fish. Bonnethead sharks are about 2 feet long on average and grow to a maximum length of about 5 feet. Diet: They feed primarily on crustaceans, consisting mostly of blue crabs, but also shrimp, mollusks and small fishes. Females tend to be larger than males. A bonnethead shark pup made her debut at Shedd Aquarium in mid-January. Rarely alone, there are usually 5-15 sharks in a school of either males or females. Size: Bonnetheads reach an average size of 36- 48 inches (91-122 cm),with a maximum length of approximately 59 inches (150 cm), with females reaching greater lengths than males. Reports exist of these sharks … Scalloped Bonnethead. It ranges from New England, where it is rare, to the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil, and from southern California to northern Peru. [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. Commonly seen over shallow sand and mud flats. Four to 12 pups are born in late summer and early fall, measuring 12 to 13 in (300 to 330 mm). Females tend to be larger than males. Weight: The heaviest specimens can weigh up to 24 pounds (approx. The first-time mother and pup have been attentively cared for and are doing great. Typically, bonnethead sharks are about 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) long, with a maximum size of about 5 ft (150 cm). English: bonnethead, bonnet hammerhead, bonnet shark, bonnethead shark, bonnetnose shark, and shovelhead. Baby Hammerhead Shark The birth took place at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska; DNA analysis showed a perfect match between mother and pup. The bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo, is seasonally distributed within estuarine, ... specifically the control region showed an average number of nucleotide differences (d xy) of 0.194, followed by genes ND2 ... similar in size to that of other Sphyrnid sharks which were slightly longer than those of Carcharhinid sharks… The mother is pregnant for 4.5 to 5 months, which is the shortest known shark gestation period. Bonnethead Shark Sphyrna tiburo. Thus, judging by their smaller cephalofoil, bonnethead sharks are the more recent developments of a 25-million-year evolutionary process. The schools sometimes number 100 and occasionally 1,000. [5] 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.[6][7]. 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