- Maximum Length
- 6.1 m (20 ft)
- Primary Habitat
- Coastal-pelagic, deep channels, continental shelves
- Diet
- Stingrays, groupers, other sharks, cephalopods
- Sighting Frequency
- Rare
About the Great Hammerhead Shark
The Great Hammerhead is the largest of the hammerhead species and one of the most impressive predators in the Caribbean. Occasionally spotted in the deeper waters around Cozumel, their distinctive hammer-shaped head provides 360-degree vision for hunting.
Behavior & Ecology
Solitary and nomadic. Uses its cephalofoil (head) to pin stingrays to the ocean floor. Highly sensitive to electromagnetic fields produced by prey. Encounters are rare and considered a privilege by divers.
Conservation status — Critically Endangered
The Great Hammerhead Shark is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Reporting sightings through BiodiversityOS helps researchers monitor population trends and identify critical habitats for protection.