Great Hammerhead Shark vs Summer Flounder
Sphyrna mokarran compared with Paralichthys dentatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphyrna mokarran | Paralichthys dentatus |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family | Sphyrnidae | Paralichthyidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 610.0 cm | 94.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 580.0 kg | 12.0 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. | Eyed side is brownish to gray-green with a mottled pattern of pale blotches; 12–14 distinct pale-edged dark ocelli (eyespots) scattered across the body; blind side is plain white; color changes with substrate. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater | Saltwater |
| Depth Range | 1-300m | 10-183m |
| 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 Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Undertakes seasonal offshore migration to deeper Continental Shelf waters in … |
| Habitat | Neritic | Neritic, demersal, estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Great Hammerhead Shark | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 4/10 |
| 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.
Summer Flounder
Thin, delicate white fillets with a sweet, mild flavor and very low fat. Prized on the U.S. East Coast; superb pan-fried in butter, stuffed and baked, or prepared as ceviche.
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.
Summer Flounder
The summer flounder, or fluke, is a flatfish that lies camouflaged on the ocean floor. Born with eyes on both sides, one eye migrates to the left side during development. An ambush predator, it explodes upward to grab passing prey.