Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)

Scientific name: Sphyrna tiburo Linnaeus, 1758

Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)

The Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sphyrnidae.

Biology

Found on the continental and insular shelves, on inshore and coastal areas, over mud and sand bottoms, also on coral reefs. Often occur in shallow water including estuaries, shallow bays and over coral reefs. Feed mainly on crustaceans, also on bivalves, octopi, and small fish. Viviparous, with 6 to 9 young per litter. Size at birth about 35 to 40 cm. Not territorial. Always occurs in small groups. Considerable sexual segregation occurs. Shows diel rhythm of activity. Utilized for human consumption and processed for fishmeal.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Sphyrna tiburo
Family
Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead / bonnethead / scoophead sharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
150
Common length
80.0
Depth range
10–80 m (33–262 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 80 m, usually 10 - 25 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to southern Brazil, including Cuba and the Bahamas. Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico; rare in Bermuda. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Ecuador.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.17-0.34; tm=3; tmax=12; Fec=3)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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