How a hammerhead shark develops his hammer
At some point in our lives we’ve been to a science museum where we see the stages of animals in embryo form growing from an egg or inside the womb. In the early stages we all sort of look like like a lizard or a puppy. But at some point we start to diverge and develop our characteristic traits.
Scientists have recently studied the hammerhead sharks start to grow their iconic head shape about halfway through gestation, discovered scientists who conducted the first study of bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) embryos at different developmental stages.
A lizard and human embryo. We look very similar.
In this small species of hammerhead shark, which gives birth to live young, the cartilage that forms the hammer develops about two months after conception. It first appears near the nose and then expands sideways. And did you know that a baby hammerhead shark is called a pup?
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
