scalloped bonnethead
Sphyrna corona
Probably the smallest of the eastern Pacific hammerheads, living near the coast, from southern Mexico to northern Peru. It is critically endangered worldwide.
Also called: tubarão-martelo-coronado, cornuda coronada, cornuda, Scalloped bonnethead
- maximum
- 92 cm
- depth
- 0–100 m
who is the scalloped bonnethead
The Mexican hammerhead belongs to the family Sphyrnidae and reaches 92 cm. It is probably the smallest of the hammerheads. It lives on the continental shelf, near the coast, in waters 0 to 100 m deep. It occurs in the eastern Pacific, from southern Mexico to northern Peru, probably including the Gulf of California. It is viviparous, with a placenta, and probably has two pups per litter. It is caught for subsistence, and the species is critically endangered.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the scalloped bonnethead; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It is probably the smallest of the hammerheads.
- It is viviparous, with a placenta, and probably has two pups per litter.
identification
Shark with a flattened head that spreads sideways in a hammer shape, with the eyes on the tips. Being probably the smallest in the family, its small size already helps tell it apart from other hammerheads of the Pacific coast. It lives near the coast, on the shelf, in shallow water down to 100 m.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Occurs in the eastern Pacific, from southern Mexico to northern Peru, on the shelf, near the coast.
Habitat: Continental shelf, near the coast, 0 to 100 m deep.
rules for the scalloped bonnethead
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Small-sized shark, but critically endangered worldwide. Keep your hands away from the mouth and release it right away, with minimal handling.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00347, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Sphyrna corona (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sphyrna coronaNames by country and language.
