Bonnethead Shark

shark · ocean · tiny hunter · unusual eater

Shovel-shaped head. Unlike its bigger hammerhead cousins, the bonnethead has a smaller, spade-like head instead of a wide hammer. Scientists think this shape helps it sense food hidden in the seafloor.

Eats plants too. Most sharks eat only meat, but bonnetheads are one of the only two shark species that eat both plants and animals. They munch on seagrass along with fish and crustaceans.

Different boy and girl heads. Male and female bonnetheads have noticeably different head shapes, making them the only hammerhead shark species where males and females look different. The males have taller, pointier heads.

Coastal homebodies. Bonnetheads love shallow waters near the shore in the North Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, where they're one of the most common sharks you might encounter.

Seriously small shark. As the tiniest hammerhead shark, bonnetheads only grow to about 3 to 4 feet long, making them one of the smallest shark species overall.