The Carolina hammerhead (Sphyrna gilberti) is a hammerhead shark species found in the western Atlantic Ocean, particularly in nearshore waters off the southeastern U.S. and Brazil. Described in 2013, it is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to overfishing and habitat degradation. Little is known about its habits, but it is genetically distinct from other hammerheads, with notable differences such as fewer vertebrae and a lighter coloration. It is named after Carter Gilbert, who recorded the first specimen in 1967. The diet of Carolina hammerheads includes bony fishes, cephalopods, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and smaller sharks and rays.
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