great great largest species shark belonging family attaining maximum length found tropical warm temperate waters worldwide inhabiting coastal areas continental shelf great distinguished shape hammer called wide straight margin tall shaped dorsal fin solitary strong swimming apex predator great feeds wide variety prey ranging crustaceans cephalopods bony fishes smaller sharks observations species wild suggest functions favored prey species viviparous mode reproduction bearing litters pups years potentially dangerous great rarely attacks humans divers treated respect shark heavily large fins extremely valuable asian market main ingredient shark fin soup result great populations declining substantially worldwide assessed endangered taxonomy phylogeny great described german naturalist later changed current years valid scientific great thought coined determined specimens illustrated fact applied senior synonym great valid species long male red_sea older studies based morphology generally placed great derived members family reflecting traditional view size gradually increased course shark evolution view refuted phylogenetic analyses nuclear mitochondrial dna found great smooth form clade basal species results evolve large small distribution habitat great inhabits tropical waters world latitudes atlantic_ocean found north_carolina including gulf_of_mexico caribbean_sea morocco mediterranean_sea found rim indian_ocean pacific_ocean australia french southern baja california peru occur guinea sierra confirmed great found waters deep depth offshore favor coral reefs inhabit continental shelves island deep water near land migratory populations florida documented moving closer poles summer description streamlined body great expanded typical sharks adult great distinguished smooth shape nearly straight margin opposed arched prominent lateral width body length teeth triangular strongly oblique corners mouth tooth rows upper jaw teeth jaw teeth lower jaw dorsal fin distinctive tall strongly shaped originates pectoral fins second dorsal fin anal fin relatively large deep rear margins pelvic fins concave rear margins contrast straight pelvic fins skin covered closely placed dermal denticles diamond shaped horizontal ridges leading marginal teeth smaller individuals larger ones great dark brown light gray olive fading white underside fins unmarked adults tip second dorsal fin dark juveniles average great measures long weighs small percentage population females larger longest great record heaviest known great long female caught florida weight female pregnant near pups biology ecology great solitary nomadic predator tends given wide berth reef sharks confronted respond display dropping pectoral fins swimming stiff fashion juveniles preyed larger sharks bull sharks adults major predators yellow seen flanks possibly rid parasites schools pilot fish accompany great great species including nemesis feeding active predator varied diet known prey great include invertebrates crabs squid octopus bony fishes sea fishes smaller sharks great prey grey reef sharks exhausted pursuing mates species known favorite prey great rays especially spines frequently found lodged inside mouth bother shark specimen caught florida spines mouth great primarily hunt dawn dusk swinging heads broad angles sea floor pick electrical signatures buried sand numerous located underside serves allows shark quickly turn strike ray detected florida large reach newly suggesting particularly keen sense smell function suggested observation great attacking southern bahamas shark knocked ray sea powerful blow pinned head large bite ray pectoral fin disc effectively crippled picked jaws apart rapid head great seen attacking spotted eagle ray open water taking massive bite pectoral fins ray shark head pin ray jaws head observations suggest great seeks disable rays bite strategy similar great white shark adaptation prey handling life history sharks great viviparous developing young use supply yolk yolk sac transformed structure analogous unlike sharks mate near sea great observed mating near surface account bahamas mating pair ascended swimming mating reached surface females breed years giving birth late spring summer december january australian waters gestation period months litter size ranges pups typical young measure birth males reach maturity long females young differ adults having rounded frontal margin head typical lifespan species years record female estimated years old human interactions large size cutting teeth great seriously human caution exercised species possibly reputation aggression dangerous sharks divers underwater reported great tend shy humans reports great approaching divers closely charging enter water lists bites fatal sharks genus difficulty identifying species involved uncertain caused great shark confirmed responsible provoked bite great regularly caught commercially tropics fixed nets hook line meat rarely consumed fins increasing valuable asian demand shark fin soup addition skin leather liver oil great taken unintentionally suffers high mortality fisheries northwest atlantic gulf_of_mexico shark nets australian south african beaches source mortality conservation status great extremely vulnerable low overall abundance long generation time assessment conservation status difficult fisheries separate great reported catches species listed globally endangered iucn red list endangered northwestern atlantic gulf_of_mexico non targeted species populations dropped 1990s endangered southwestern indian_ocean large numbers vessels operate illegally coasts giant great catch rate indian_ocean declined represent localized widespread great critically endangered western coast africa stocks collapsed estimated decline past years west african sub regional fishing commission recognized great threatened species region fishing continues northern australia species assessed high risk concern arisen substantial increase illegal fishing reflecting raising value shark fins conservation measures specifically protecting great enacted listed annex highly migratory species management schemes implemented agreement banning shark countries entities united_states australia european_union international regulatory bodies reduce fishing pressure great
Great hammerhead