Scalloped Bonnethead Shark

The Scalloped Bonnethead Sphyrna corona, is a rare, little known species of hammerhead shark, family Sphyrnidae. Its other common names include the mallethead shark and the crown shark. It is found in tropical waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Peru and possibly as far north as the Golf of California. It frequents inshore habitats over soft bottoms (mud, sand and gravel) to a depth of 100 m and also enters mangroves and estuaries.

Probably the smallest species of hammerhead shark, the Scalloped Bonnethead measures up to 92 cm long. Its mallet shaped head, called "cephalofoil", is moderately wide (24-29% of total length) and elongated lengthwise. The front margin is broadly arched, with shallow lateral and medial indentations and no premarial grooves. The mouth is smal and strongly arched. The anal fin is long and has a nearly straight rear margin. Its coloration is gray above and white below, with no prominent fin markings. The similar Scoophead (Sphyrna media) can be distinguished by a shorter snout, broader mouth and a deeply concave anal fin margin.

Like other hammerheads, the Scalloped Bonnethead is viviparous, with presumably 2 pups per litter. The young are born at 23 cm or above; and adolescent male has been recorded at 51 cm long, an adult at 67 cm. It may be taken by local inshore fisheries, but data is lacking. It feeds on or near the bottom, on mobile crustaceans and molluscs, cephalopods, echinoderms and bony fishes.