Bonnethead Shark
- Common Name: Bonnethead Shark
- Scientific Name: Sphyrna tiburo
- Diet: Crabs, shrimp, snails, small fish
- Range: Western Atlantic Ocean, eastern Pacific Ocean
- Size: 2 to 3 feet, 13 pounds
- Lifespan: Roughly 12 years
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered
Endangered
NE
DD
LC
NT
VU
EN
CR
EW
EX
Overview
Bonnethead sharks can be found in both the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans — from Rhode Island to the Bahamas and California to Ecuador.
Geographical Distribution and Habitat
These sharks are documented living in subtropical waters including surf zones, bays and estuaries, coral reefs, and over sandy and muddy bottoms.
Diet
Bonnethead sharks feed during the day with foraging activity peaking in the late afternoon. Their diet consists of crab, shrimp, bivalves, snails, and some small bony fish.
Fun Facts
- Bonnetheads have been documented eating different kinds of seagrasses, making them the only known omnivorous shark.
- They have small sharp teeth in the front of their jaws, with broad, flat molar-like teeth at the back.
Learn About Other Animals
Open Ocean
Green Sea Turtle
- Common Name: Green Sea Turtle
- Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
- Diet: Seagrass, algae, plankton, crabs, jellyfish, and sponges
- Range: Circumglobally distributed throughout tropical water, and some subtropical waters
- Size: Up to 3-4 feet and a weight of 440 lbs.
- Lifespan: 80 years or more