Great Hammerhead Shark
Today’s adventure takes us somewhere very deep, very wet, and REALLY big. Did you guess it? We are headed to the Pacific Ocean, one of the many ocean regions the Hammerhead Shark swims.
Critter At A Glance
What are they?
Believe it or not, they are actually huge fish, and they get their name from the shape of their head. Do you notice their wide hammer shaped noggin? You might already know they have incredibly sharp triangle shaped teeth, perfect for eating squid, crab, octopus, and even other fish or small sharks with bones! These monsters of the sea can weigh up to 1000lbs.
What about their babies?
Well, baby sharks might not be furry or cuddly, but they’re indeed called pups. Mothers can have up to 40 little pups at a time, and they’re about 2 feet long. Their heads are more round than grown-up sharks.
Are they endangered?
YES! Endangered means there are very few of them left in the wild.
Do they talk to each other?
They don’t talk like people do, but they can use their fins, shaking their heads, or ramming their snouts. I guess we can say they have their own shark sign language.
Let’s see if Ray the Great Hammerhead has some more to teach us about these fascinating critters of the sea!
Are you ready for an out of this world fact?
Great Hammerhead Sharks are super athletic. They can swim up to 25 miles per hour. They are very good at twisting and turning in the water.
Critter Protectors we need you! It's time to create and it's time to move!
MOVE Have you ever played Sharks and Minnows? One person is the shark and the others are little minnows. The shark stands in the middle of the room while the fish stand against one wall.
The shark says “Fishy fishy come and play.” All the fish slowly walk across the room.
The shark says “Shark attack” and the fish run or speed walk to the other side and touch the wall.
The tagged fish become sharks on the next round.
CREATE Today we are getting our creative juices going! Print off the sharks below so you can make some puppet characters. Cut out your sharks and add some popsicle sticks or straws on the back to hold them up. Can you make up your own story about Ray the Hammerhead Shark and his friends?
Share your stories! #heymrjim
Click the picture to download your pdf!
“Great Hammerhead Shark: 15 Facts You Won't Believe.” Free Ideas For Family Fun & Learning, https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/great-hammerhead-sharks.
“Great Hammerhead Shark.” Oceana, 7 Nov. 2021, https://oceana.org/marine-life/great-hammerhead-shark/#:~:text=Like%20other%20hammerhead%20species%2C%20great,those%20hiding%20in%20the%20sand.