Welcome back for another Finn Friday everyone! Today we are going to learn all about the Bonnethead shark. The Bonnethead is the smallest of the three types of hammerhead sharks. Typically they range in size from around 90-120 cm (3-4 ft.) when they are fully grown. This shark has a very special place in my heart because it was the first species I ever got to interact with in the field. While on exchange in Sarasota, Florida, I had the absolutely amazing opportunity to go assist with some fieldwork and go shark tagging. Waking up before the sun was not my favorite thing to do, but I would do it a million times over if it meant I got to go out on a boat and hang out with some sharks again. Totally worth the lack of sleep. Anywho, let’s dive on in and learn all about the Bonetthead!
Where do they live?
Bonnetheads are only found in warm waters in the Northern Hemisphere. They can be found in the Atlantic ocean ranging from as far north as New England to the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil in the south. In the Pacific ocean, they are found from southern California to Ecuador. Bonnetheads are also commonly found in the Caribbean sea around Cuba and the Bahamas.
How long do they live?
On average, Bonnetheads live to be around 12 years old.
What do they eat?
Bonnetheads tend to eat mostly crustaceans, but will also frequently eat clams, small fish, and octopuses. Funnily enough, Bonnetheads also happen to be the only known shark species to intentionally eat seagrass. This means, technically, they are omnivores.
What do they like to do?
As far as sharks go, they are a pretty social bunch. You will usually find them in groups, or schools, of 5-15 individuals. Schools of Bonnetheads have also been observed having 100-1,000 individuals on occasion. Another cool thing Bonnetheads do is use their heads as a shovel! They have been observed using their heads to dig up crustaceans or to dig under corals for little fish and clams.
Conservation Status:
Unlike many species of sharks, Bonnetheads are doing pretty well! They are listed as least concern by the IUCN Red List. They are, on occasion, caught as bycatch by fishing vessels, and are targeted by sport fishing, but their population is stable and thriving.
Thank you for coming and learning with me today! Were you as surprised as I was to learn that a shark eats veggies?! Totally blew my mind. These small but mighty sharks will always be so special to me. You never forget the first time you hold a shark, even if you’re like me and forget to take any pictures. What is your favorite thing you learned today? Let me know below!
Sources:
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/saltwater/sharks/bonnethead-shark/
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/sphyrna-tiburo/
https://aqua.org/explore/animals/bonnethead-shark
https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/bonnethead_shark
https://www.sheddaquarium.org/animals/bonnethead-shark
https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/cartilaginous-fish/bonnethead-shark/
https://marinebio.org/species/bonnethead-sharks/sphyrna-tiburo/
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39387/2921446
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