Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna lewini

Scalloped hammerhead shark illustration

Protected Status

ESA Endangered
Eastern Pacific DPS
ESA Endangered - Foreign
Eastern Atlantic DPS
ESA Threatened
Central & Southwest Atlantic DPS, Indo-West Pacific DPS
CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
Up to 335 pounds
Lifespan
15 to 30 years
Length
5 to 11 feet
Threats
Overfishing, Bycatch
Location
Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
See Regulatory Actions
Scalloped hammerhead shark swimming close to a reef.

About the Species

Scalloped hammerhead sharks are moderately large sharks with a global distribution. The most distinguishing characteristic of this shark is it's "hammer-shaped" head. They are threatened by commercial fishing, mainly for the shark fin trade. Two distinct population segments of the scalloped hammerhead shark are listed as endangered and 2 are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting scalloped hammerhead sharks. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species.

ESA Endangered

1 distinct population segment

  • Eastern Pacific DPS

ESA Endangered - Foreign

1 distinct population segment

  • Eastern Atlantic DPS

ESA Threatened

2 distinct population segments

  • Central & Southwest Atlantic DPS
  • Indo-West Pacific DPS

CITES Appendix II

  • Throughout Its Range

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Sphyrnidae
Genus Sphyrna
Species lewini

Featured News

NOAA Fisheries chief scientist William “Trey” Driggers and a sandbar shark caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
Feature Story

Fishing for Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico

Southeast

Management Overview

Two distinct population segments of the scalloped hammerhead shark are listed as endangered and 2 are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Regulatory History

On August 14, 2011, we received a petition from WildEarth Guardians and Friends of Animals to list the scalloped hammerhead shark as threatened or endangered under the ESA throughout its entire range, or as an alternative, to delineate the species into DPSs. On November 28, 2011, we published a notice that listing may be warranted. We published the proposed rule to list under the ESA and status review of the species in April 2013. In July 2014, we listed 4 DPSs under the ESA.

Regulatory Actions & Documents

Listing of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Under the ESA

In response to a petition submitted by WildEarth Guardians and Friends of Animals, we, NOAA Fisheries, are issuing a final determination to list the Central and Southwest (SW) Atlantic Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and the Indo-West Pacific DPS of scalloped...
Final Rule
Effective

Documents

Document

Status Review Report for Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini)

The March 2014 status review report conducted in response to a petition to list the scalloped hammerhead...

National
More Documents