The bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo), also known as the bonnet shark or shovelhead, is a small species of hammerhead shark found mainly in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. It is unique among sharks for displaying sexual dimorphism in head shape and being omnivorous.
Characterized by its broad, smooth, spade-like head, the bonnethead typically grows to about 80–90 cm in length. Adult females have a rounded head, while males have a prominent bulge formed by elongation of the rostral cartilages.
The bonnethead feeds primarily on crustaceans like blue crabs, as well as shrimp, mollusks, and small fish. Its feeding behavior involves sweeping the seafloor to detect prey. In a unique trait for sharks, it also consumes large amounts of seagrass, which constitutes approximately 62.1% of its gut content, and has shown the ability to digest it efficiently, indicating its omnivorous diet.
