New Species of Hammerhead Shark Discovered Off South Carolina Coast

Posted on August 11, 2013

A new species of shark has been discovered off the Carolina coast. The new shark has been named the Carolina hammerhead. The newly discovered shark looks exactly like the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini. The difference is that the Carolina hammerhead has slightly less vertebrae than the scalloped hammerhead.

The Carolina hammerhead can be 11 feet long and weigh up to 400 pounds as adults. Like other hammerhead sharks it has a flat, extended head, known as a cephalofoil.

Allison Garrett, a spokeswoman for NOAA, told StarNews, "Outwardly, the shark is identical to the scalloped hammerhead. However, the two species are distinguished by genetic differences and the number of vertebrae they possess."

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