The winghead shark (Eusphyra blochii) is a small species of hammerhead shark from the family Sphyrnidae, reaching lengths of up to 1.9 m. This shark has a slender body and a distinctive, wide cephalofoil, which may enhance its senses, providing excellent binocular vision and improved odor detection. Inhabiting shallow coastal waters of the central and western Indo-Pacific, it feeds on small bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
Winghead sharks give birth to live young, with females producing annual litters of six to 25 pups after a gestation period of 8–11 months. This species is considered harmless and is widely fished for its meat and fins. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed it as endangered in 2016 due to overfishing.
The cephalofoil features long, narrow blades, with eyes positioned for optimal vision and nostrils extending along its leading margin. The shark is streamlined, with a tall dorsal fin and a lengthwise groove on the caudal peduncle. Its coloration is generally brownish gray above and off-white below, lacking any fin markings. The winghead shark’s range extends from the Persian Gulf across South and Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern Queensland, often found in shallow waters near the shore.
Image Credit | CSIRO National Fish Collection, CC BY 3.0 AU via Wikimedia Commons
