CR

Smalleye Hammerhead

Sphyrna tudes

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The smalleye hammerhead shark faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure throughout its range in the western Atlantic. This species is particularly vulnerable to both targeted fishing and bycatch in gillnet and longline fisheries, with its shallow coastal habitat overlapping extensively with high-intensity fishing zones. The species' slow reproductive rate and late maturity make population recovery extremely difficult once depleted.

Threat summary

Habitat

The smalleye hammerhead inhabits shallow coastal waters, continental shelves, and nearshore environments in the western Atlantic Ocean. This species typically occurs in waters less than 40 meters deep, preferring sandy and muddy bottoms where it feeds on small fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.

MARINE· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Smalleye Hammerhead classified as Critically Endangered?
Smalleye Hammerhead is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The smalleye hammerhead shark faces severe population declines primarily due to intensive fishing pressure throughout its range in the western Atlantic. This species is particularly vulnerable to both targeted fishing and bycatch in gillnet and longline fisheries, with its shallow coastal habitat overlapping extensively with high-intensity fishing zones. The species' slow reproductive rate and late maturity make population recovery extremely difficult once depleted.
Where does Smalleye Hammerhead live?
Smalleye Hammerhead occurs in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, China, and Colombia (plus 20 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Smalleye Hammerhead?
The main threats to Smalleye Hammerhead are 5.4, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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