The Evolution of Hammerhead Sharks

Sharks have had a place in the ecosystems of the ocean for over 400 million years, being present in the sea long before dinosaurs existed, before trees existed, and sharks are in fact roughly as old as terrestrial plants. Over this very vast amount of time It is often thought that sharks have stopped evolving or remained unchanged for many years. However, in there long history they have adapted many new forms and they continue to evolve to this day. And no group of sharks shows this more than the hammerhead sharks. So why did they evolve their famous head shapes.

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[wraithwrecker_]

I like how every single hypothesis presented in this video has seemingly near conclusive evidence against it. We really haven't figured why hammerheads have hammerheads at all.

[UATU.]

Trying to imagine their field of vision does a number on my brain.

[mattonite]

ive always wondered why hammerheads decided to become a tool so glad you made this video

[vincentx]

Just because an animal is positioned on the basal position in a phylogenetic tree doesn't necessarily mean the it's features is representative of the ancestral condition - they are still evolving after the split and can in fact get really specialized. Smilodon for instance is more basal relative to modern cats, but it by no means reflects the ancestral condition of felines.

[enezjaniw]

I'd love a video on how closely related all the shark species are.

[willh]

I really wish I’d been able to take a class going into specifics of how different species evolved like this in college when I got my degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Love this channel

[WaterShowsProd]

In case my profile picture doesn't make it obvious, I love this video. Thank you for diving deep with the hammerheads. Absolutely fascinating.

[sandro]

Interesting that the armored fish vanished while cartilage prevailed.

[awesomearchivist]

Hammerheads are my favorite sharks i think they look cool rather than odd. I like alot of animals people find "weird" usually because theyre very specialized to thier environment or niche.

For example my favorite land mammal is the giant ant eater and my favorite bird is a tie between the toco toucan and the roseate spoonbill. Not only do i think asthetically they're amazing but also how they adapt physically to the environment i find fascinating.

[redneckhippiefreak]

I got to know a Hammerhead shark. He liked to hang out just off of the bar where I surfed. Every day, dawn and dusk he would bet here. At first I was a little freaked out at a 8 ft shark circling me but for some reason when I saw is second fin pop up it kinda put me at ease. Most every surfer worth their wax has been brushed by the sandpaper fish but, My first close encounter with him was when he chased a school of blues past me. Even though Hammerheads have been know to be less aggressive. It was seriously unnerving. Fast and fierce. He nearly hit me and I felt the board buck as the currents hit it from underneath when he turned. If it had been a Mako or a Tiger, I think I would be less a limb or dead. Over the next 6 years I watched the space between the fins grow. He would circle us and lurk on the ocean side of the bar for about 2 hours and carry on his rounds. . Over time he slowly got closer and closer to us.. Id say around 4 years in he started seriously getting closer. The few brushes and buzz bys became pauses in the water and belly flashes, almost like a Dolphin. Strange behavior for a Shark of any kind I have ever know.. By the end of our time together, he would literally let guys pet him. Not in the puppy dog way, but more of a 2-3 second pause in the middle of a turning motion before slapping the water with his tail and powering away.. He would slowly roll back up and flash his belly and do it again from the opposing side. Anyone that knows sharks knows that any side to side movement from a Hammerhead could be a sign of them sizing you up and a shark slapping you with their tail is an attempt to injure you, but we never felt that way with the belly flashing display and all. It was never an aggressive slap or a true expression of his power. We interpreted that as a sign of his intent being simple Curiosity. By this time he was not small by any means. I once saw him clear his gills and he was about a foot clear of the water.. I estimated him at 10 ft. That beautiful brown over silver flash against the orange water was beautiful and a stark reminder of what we were swimming with. . Sadly, one winter day I noticed he had a few deep scrapes on his rear fin and flank, I suspect it got into a fight or possibly a boat strike. Heck, maybe an idiot surfer stabbed it, I have no clue. It wasn't but a few weeks later that he was starting to grey out completely and some one caught him. He was a news worthy catch at 13 foot 6 inches. He was missed on the bar and needless to say, other sharks moved in and it wasn't 6 months later someone nearly lost their foot to a shark on the bar. We were once again at the mercy of the ocean without our friend and guardian.. RIP Rounder. Wrightsville Beach misses you.

[syafiqjabar]

Bonnetheads probably evolved smaller heads since they do not need many hunting advantages, getting most energy from eating sea grass

[tristancoetzee]

Your videos always quench my thirst for evolutionary knowledge!

[ZwrP]

my mind was blown when you made me realize sharks are older than god damn trees lol.

[notoriousbigmoai]

Survive all five mass extinctions
Evolve unique head shape for survival
Are literally movie stars (Jaws, The Meg)
Sharks are truly gigachad of evolution.

[bariumselenided]

I have gone almost 25 years never knowing there was more than one species of hammerhead.

[dessertstorm]

8:50 when he says "neoteny which you can learn about here" is somethign supposed to pop up? Didn't youtube remove this feature years ago? I never get that stuff anymore

[obibraxton]

Anytime I see a notification from Moth Light Media I rush as soon as I see it keep the content coming 🙌🏾

[mariastevens]

I said this before and I'll say it again: please, PLEASE don't change your storytelling style. Your voice and tempo is so soothing and makes it easier to absorb what you're saying. Plus, it may or may not be nice to fall asleep to with your vids on autoplay...

[thediscodemon]

Great video as always, I am so Intrigued by the Hammerheads. I have an idea for another video, you could discuss the unknown world of Appalachia. Cretaceous Laramidia is easily the most famous prehistoric landscape, but the landmass right beyond it is an enigma. The creatures we do know in Appalachia are strange as well. I think it would be a really interesting video.

[MatthewTheWanderer]

Hammerheads are so weird and cool that I think they might be my favorite kind of shark!