Seeks food with its head

The scalloped hammerhead shark seeks food with its very unusual head that resembles a hammer. The eyes are situated on the tips of the head extensions and its skin is covered in unique electrical sensory organs. This is how it scans its surroundings for food.

What it eats

The scalloped hammerhead eats other sharks, rays, bony fish and cuttlefish. In the Ocean Tank at National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet, the scalloped hammerheads could eat all of the small fish if they wanted to. But they have become used to being fed, so they don't hunt for food. But if a small fish strays in front of the scalloped hammerhead's open jaws, it cannot control its hunting instinct.

Sticking together

At National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet, you can see scalloped hammerheads swimming in shoals just like in nature. Only the Indo-Pacific scalloped hammerhead forms shoals, and researchers do not know why. But maybe they just like having company.

Are sharks dangerous?

Many people are afraid of sharks and see them as one of the world's most aggressive and dangerous animals. But in reality, they kill only around 6 people each year. When a shark goes on the attack, it is either frightened or curious.

Different hammerheads

There are 8 species of hammerhead shark. The Indo-Pacific hammerhead shark, which you can see at National Aquarium Denmark, Den Blå Planet, is the second-largest. All hammerhead sharks share the unusual head shape.

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