Mokarran: The Great Hammerhead

Staff · Issue 18, Apr/May 2004 · pp. 27–30

Products mentioned: Nikon D100, Sea & Sea housing, Sea & Sea YS60 strobes, Nikon F100

27 Mokarran The Great Hammerhead By Charles Hood I think it is fair to say that out of all the large sharks the great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) is one of the rarest observed by man. Why is this so? Well for a start it is an oceanic shark, that is for most of the time it lives away from the shore and out to sea. Furthermore it is usually a solitary predator and is never seen in schools like the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) of the Cocos for instance. So what’s the difference between mokarran and the other hammerheads? Essentially with an average length of between 4-6 metres, mokarran is a giant. It is also spiky. Compared with other sharks its huge dorsal fin protrudes upward second only in height to that of an orca’s fin. Moreover its tail, pectoral and anal fins stick outwards giving the bizarre appearance of some futuristic flying machine. Quite simply it is an awe inspirin…