Great Hammerhead Shark vs Red Drum
Sphyrna mokarran compared with Sciaenops ocellatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphyrna mokarran | Sciaenops ocellatus |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes | Perciformes |
| Family | Sphyrnidae | Sciaenidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 610.0 cm | 155.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 580.0 kg | 45.0 kg |
| Color | Brownish-gray to olive-gray dorsal surface with a clean countershaded white belly; no distinct patterning; first dorsal fin is tall and strongly falcate; pelvic fin tips dusky. | Coppery-bronze to reddish-orange flanks with a characteristic black eyespot at the upper tail base; back is darker bronze-olive; belly pale to silvery; fins match body tone with dusky margins. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater | Freshwater & Saltwater |
| Depth Range | 1-300m | 10-?m |
| Geographic Range | Circumtropical in warm coastal and offshore waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Concentrates around coral reefs, continental shelf edges, and deep-water drop-offs; population … | Western North Atlantic from Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Adults favor open nearshore reefs and coastal surf zones while juveniles inhabit … |
| Habitat | Neritic | Estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 7/10 |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Great Hammerhead Shark
Critically Endangered — consumption strongly discouraged. Fins are historically traded but the species faces severe population decline; eating this fish is ecologically irresponsible.
Red Drum
Firm, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and moderate fat; smaller fish (under 27 inches) are the best table size. Famous as 'blackened redfish' — a Louisiana Cajun culinary classic.
Species Overview
Great Hammerhead Shark
The great hammerhead is the largest of the nine hammerhead shark species. Its distinctive cephalofoil (hammer-shaped head) houses an array of electroreceptors that allow it to detect stingrays buried beneath the sand.
Red Drum
The red drum, or redfish, is an iconic inshore game fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Identified by the distinctive black spot at the base of its tail, it feeds by tipping head-down in shallow water, exposing its copper-colored tail.