The known species range from 0.9 to 6.0 m (2 ft 11 in to 19 ft 8 in) in length and weigh from 3 to 580 kg (6.6 to 1,300 lb). Unlike most sharks, some hammerhead species will congregate and swim in large schools during the day, becoming solitary hunters at night. Hammerheads are found worldwide, preferring life in warmer waters along coastlines and continental shelves. The cephalofoil gives the shark superior binocular vision and depth perception. Many different- but not necessarily mutually exclusive-functions have been postulated for the cephalofoil, including sensory reception, manoeuvering, and prey manipulation. Most hammerhead species are placed in the genus Sphyrna, while the winghead shark is placed in its own genus, Eusphyra. The shark’s eyes are placed one on either end of this T-shaped structure, with their small mouths directly centered and underneath. The hammerhead sharks are a group of sharks that form the family Sphyrnidae, commonly referred to as ‘hammerheads’ for the unusual and distinctive form of their heads, which are flattened and laterally extended into a "hammer" (or letter-“T”) shape called a cephalofoil. The hammer-like shape of the head means that hammerhead sharks can sweep for prey more effectively.
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