The scalloped bonnethead (Sphyrna corona) is a rare species of hammerhead shark, also known as the mallethead or crown shark. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters in the eastern Pacific, from Mexico to Peru, typically over soft bottoms and in mangroves and estuaries, at depths up to 100 m.
Measuring up to 92 centimeters long, it is the smallest hammerhead species. Its mallet-shaped head is moderately wide, with a broadly arched front margin and a small, strongly arched mouth. The anal fin is long with a nearly straight margin, and its coloration is gray above and white below, lacking prominent fin markings. It can be differentiated from the similar scoophead by its shorter snout and broader mouth.
The scalloped bonnethead is viviparous, likely giving birth to two pups per litter, with young measuring around 23 centimeters at birth. It primarily feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, cephalopods, echinoderms, and bony fishes.
Image Credit | D Ross Robertson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
