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WoRMS taxon details
Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834)
105816 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:105816)
accepted
Species
Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865 · unaccepted
Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913 · unaccepted
Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941 · unaccepted
Sphyrna leweni (Griffith & Smith, 1834) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871 · unaccepted
Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823 · unaccepted
Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834 · unaccepted
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
(of Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834) Griffith, E.; Smith, C. H. (1834). The class Pisces, arranged by the Baron Cuvier, with supplementary additions, by Edward Griffith, F.R.S., &c. and Lieut.-Col. Charles Hamilton Smith, F.R., L.S.S., &c. &c. <em>In: Cuvier, G: The animal kingdom, arranged in conformity with its organization, by the Baron Cuvier, member of the Institute of France, &c. &c. &c., with supplementary additions to each order, by Edward Griffith ... and others. (2nd ed.) Whittaker & Co., London.</em> 1-680, Pls. 1-62 + 3. [English treatment of Cuvier's "Régne Animal"; supplements by Griffith and Smith; authorship variously cited.]., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.1979 [details]
Description A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over the continental and insular shelves. Young form schools and forage...
Distribution New Jersey to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico
Description A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over the continental and insular shelves. Young form schools and forage near the bottom, migrating to deeper outer reef waters as they grow. Adults solitary or in pairs. Feeds on fishes, including other sharks and rays (Ref. 1602), cephalopods, and crustaceans; also on turtles (Ref. 2334). Non-aggressive unless stimulated by fish blood. Utilized: fresh, dried-salted, smoked and frozen; also sought for fins and hides (Ref. 9987). Game fish record weighed almost 450 kg (Ref. 9987). [details]
Distribution New Jersey to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico
Distribution New Jersey to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico [details]
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2026). FishBase. Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=105816 on 2026-09-10
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Nomenclature
original description
(of Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865) Day, F. (1865). The fishes of Malabar. <em>London.</em> i-xxxii + 1-293, 20 pls. [details]
original description (of Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913) Garman, S. (1913). The Plagiostomia (sharks, skates, and rays). <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.</em> v. 36: i-xiii + 1-515., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4364116#page/11/mode/1up [details]
original description (of Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834) Griffith, E.; Smith, C. H. (1834). The class Pisces, arranged by the Baron Cuvier, with supplementary additions, by Edward Griffith, F.R.S., &c. and Lieut.-Col. Charles Hamilton Smith, F.R., L.S.S., &c. &c. <em>In: Cuvier, G: The animal kingdom, arranged in conformity with its organization, by the Baron Cuvier, member of the Institute of France, &c. &c. &c., with supplementary additions to each order, by Edward Griffith ... and others. (2nd ed.) Whittaker & Co., London.</em> 1-680, Pls. 1-62 + 3. [English treatment of Cuvier's "Régne Animal"; supplements by Griffith and Smith; authorship variously cited.]., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.1979 [details]
original description (of Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871) Klunzinger, C. B. (1871). Synopsis der Fische des Rothen Meeres. II. Theil. <em>Verhandlungen der K.-K. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien.</em> 21: 441-688., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16425732#page/595/mode/1up [details]
original description (of Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941) Springer, S. (1941). A new species of hammerhead shark of the genus Sphyrna. <em>Proceedings of the Florida Academy of Sciences.</em> 5: 46-53, Pl. 1. [details]
original description (of Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823) van Hasselt, J.C. (1823). Uittreksel uit een brief van Dr. J.C. van Hasselt, aan den Heer C. J. Temminck. <em>Alhemeene Konst en Letter-bode.</em> 1823 [1]: 315-317., available online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015065335005&view=1up&seq=331&skin=2021 [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
original description (of Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913) Garman, S. (1913). The Plagiostomia (sharks, skates, and rays). <em>Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.</em> v. 36: i-xiii + 1-515., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4364116#page/11/mode/1up [details]
original description (of Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834) Griffith, E.; Smith, C. H. (1834). The class Pisces, arranged by the Baron Cuvier, with supplementary additions, by Edward Griffith, F.R.S., &c. and Lieut.-Col. Charles Hamilton Smith, F.R., L.S.S., &c. &c. <em>In: Cuvier, G: The animal kingdom, arranged in conformity with its organization, by the Baron Cuvier, member of the Institute of France, &c. &c. &c., with supplementary additions to each order, by Edward Griffith ... and others. (2nd ed.) Whittaker & Co., London.</em> 1-680, Pls. 1-62 + 3. [English treatment of Cuvier's "Régne Animal"; supplements by Griffith and Smith; authorship variously cited.]., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.1979 [details]
original description (of Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871) Klunzinger, C. B. (1871). Synopsis der Fische des Rothen Meeres. II. Theil. <em>Verhandlungen der K.-K. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien.</em> 21: 441-688., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16425732#page/595/mode/1up [details]
original description (of Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941) Springer, S. (1941). A new species of hammerhead shark of the genus Sphyrna. <em>Proceedings of the Florida Academy of Sciences.</em> 5: 46-53, Pl. 1. [details]
original description (of Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823) van Hasselt, J.C. (1823). Uittreksel uit een brief van Dr. J.C. van Hasselt, aan den Heer C. J. Temminck. <em>Alhemeene Konst en Letter-bode.</em> 1823 [1]: 315-317., available online at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015065335005&view=1up&seq=331&skin=2021 [details]
basis of record van der Land, J.; Costello, M.J.; Zavodnik, D.; Santos, R.S.; Porteiro, F.M.; Bailly, N.; Eschmeyer, W.N.; Froese, R. (2001). Pisces, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 357-374 (look up in IMIS) [details]
Ecology
ecology source
Looby, A.; Erbe, C.; Bravo, S.; Cox, K.; Davies, H. L.; Di Iorio, L.; Jézéquel, Y.; Juanes, F.; Martin, C. W.; Mooney, T. A.; Radford, C.; Reynolds, L. K.; Rice, A. N.; Riera, A.; Rountree, R.; Spriel, B.; Stanley, J.; Vela, S.; Parsons, M. J. G. (2023). Global inventory of species categorized by known underwater sonifery. <em>Scientific Data.</em> 10(1). (look up in IMIS), available online at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02745-4 [details] 
Other
context source (PeRMS)
Chirichigno, N.; Cornejo, M. (2001). Catálogo comentado de los peces marinos del Perú. <em>2ª ed. Instituto del Mar de Perú. Publicación Especial. Callao.</em> 314 p. [details]
context source (HKRMS) Hong Kong marine fish database. <em>AFCD.</em> , available online at https://www.hk-fish.net/en/fish/introduction/ [details]
context source (Deepsea) Moore, A. B.; Gates, A. R. (2015). Deep-water observation of scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini in the western Indian Ocean off Tanzania. <em>Marine Biodiversity Records.</em> 8., available online at https://doi.org/10.1017/s1755267215000627 [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
additional source Barker, A. M.; Adams, D. H.; Driggers, W. B.; Frazier, B. S.; Portnoy, D. S. (2019). Hybridization between sympatric hammerhead sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean. <em>Biology Letters.</em> 15(4): 20190004., available online at https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0004 [details]
additional source Castro. (1983). [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2026). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
[request]
additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
context source (HKRMS) Hong Kong marine fish database. <em>AFCD.</em> , available online at https://www.hk-fish.net/en/fish/introduction/ [details]
context source (Deepsea) Moore, A. B.; Gates, A. R. (2015). Deep-water observation of scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini in the western Indian Ocean off Tanzania. <em>Marine Biodiversity Records.</em> 8., available online at https://doi.org/10.1017/s1755267215000627 [details]
context source (Bermuda) Smith-Vaniz, W. F.; Collette, B. B.; Luckhurst, B. E (1999). Fishes of Bermuda: History, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Special Publication No.4) . ASIH, 424 pp. [details]
additional source Barker, A. M.; Adams, D. H.; Driggers, W. B.; Frazier, B. S.; Portnoy, D. S. (2019). Hybridization between sympatric hammerhead sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean. <em>Biology Letters.</em> 15(4): 20190004., available online at https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0004 [details]
additional source Castro. (1983). [details]
additional source Froese, R. & D. Pauly (Editors). (2026). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (04/2025)., available online at https://www.fishbase.org [details]
additional source Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). , available online at http://www.itis.gov [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). [Checklist of marine biota of China seas]. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source McEachran, J. D. (2009). Fishes (Vertebrata: Pisces) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 1223–1316 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details]
Present Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Unreviewed
Description A coastal-pelagic, semi-oceanic shark occurring over the continental and insular shelves. Young form schools and forage near the bottom, migrating to deeper outer reef waters as they grow. Adults solitary or in pairs. Feeds on fishes, including other sharks and rays (Ref. 1602), cephalopods, and crustaceans; also on turtles (Ref. 2334). Non-aggressive unless stimulated by fish blood. Utilized: fresh, dried-salted, smoked and frozen; also sought for fins and hides (Ref. 9987). Game fish record weighed almost 450 kg (Ref. 9987). [details]Distribution New Jersey to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico [details]
Habitat nektonic [details]
| Language | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| English | scalloped hammerhead | [details] |
| German | gekerbter HammerhaiBogenstirn-Hammerhai | [details] |
| Japanese | アカシュモクザメ | [details] |
| Lithuanian | bronzinis kūjaryklis | [details] |
| Polish | głowomłot tropikalny | [details] |
| Russian | бронзовая акула-молот | [details] |
| Spanish | tiburón martillocornuda común | [details] |
| Turkish | çekiç balığı | [details] |
| Ukrainian | Бронзова риба-молотАкула-молот бронзова | [details] |
To Barcode of Life (790 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (14 publications) (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (2 publications) (from synonym Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (48 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (7 publications) (from synonym Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (8 publications) (from synonym Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Sphyrna lewini)
To FishBase (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To FishBase (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To FishBase (from synonym Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865)
To FishBase
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823)
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871)
To FishBase (from synonym Sphyrna leweni (Griffith & Smith, 1834))
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (1398 nucleotides; 867 proteins)
To GenBank (1398 nucleotides; 867 proteins) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Critically Endangered)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Cestracion oceanica USNM 153587 syntype radiograph caudal area) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Cestracion oceanica USNM 153587 syntype radiograph head) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini P05265 illustration) (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini RAD100011-001)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini RAD100011-001)
To PESI
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (14 publications) (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (2 publications) (from synonym Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (48 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (7 publications) (from synonym Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (8 publications) (from synonym Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Sphyrna lewini)
To FishBase (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To FishBase (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To FishBase (from synonym Cestracion leeuwenii Day, 1865)
To FishBase
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena indica van Hasselt, 1823)
To FishBase (from synonym Zygaena erythraea Klunzinger, 1871)
To FishBase (from synonym Sphyrna leweni (Griffith & Smith, 1834))
To Fishipedia
To GenBank (1398 nucleotides; 867 proteins)
To GenBank (1398 nucleotides; 867 proteins) (from synonym Zygaena lewini Griffith & Smith, 1834)
To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI)
To IUCN Red List (Critically Endangered)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Cestracion oceanica USNM 153587 syntype radiograph caudal area) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Cestracion oceanica USNM 153587 syntype radiograph head) (from synonym Cestracion oceanica Garman, 1913)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini P05265 illustration) (from synonym Sphyrna diplana Springer, 1941)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini RAD100011-001)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Sphyrna lewini RAD100011-001)
To PESI
To ITIS
