Credit: Illustration by Diane Rome Peebles
Family Sphyrnidae
Habitat Abundant in nearshore Florida waters. Commonly seen over shallow sand and mud flats. Moves into deeper coastal waters during the colder months.
Feeding Feeds primarily on crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and small fishes.
Reproduction Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 4–16 pups. Size at birth about 12 inches.
Size/Age Smallest member of the hammerhead family. Maximum length about 3.5 feet. Matures at approximately 2 years of age (about 30 inches) and is estimated to live 7+ years.
Human factors Edible, but marketed mostly as crab bait. Good sport fish; use light tackle with live shrimp or cut-bait. Harmless to humans. Often displayed in aquaria.
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