SPHYRNIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Sphyrnidae is a scientific term used to refer to a family of sharks known as hammerhead sharks. It is derived from the Greek word "sphyrna," meaning hammer, and the suffix "-idae," which is commonly used to indicate a family in zoological taxonomic classification.
Hammerhead sharks belong to the family Sphyrnidae, which includes nine recognized species. They are characterized by their distinctive hammer-shaped head, also known as a cephalofoil, which is responsible for their name. The head structure features eyes positioned on the outer edges, giving them a wide field of vision, and sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini located in the cephalofoil that enable them to detect electrical signals produced by prey.
These sharks are generally found in coastal and warmer marine waters around the world. They possess a streamlined body and can vary in size depending on the species, with the largest being the great hammerhead shark, reaching up to 6 meters in length. Hammerhead sharks are known for their unique hunting behavior, as the shape of their head allows for enhanced maneuverability and better prey detection.
The family Sphyrnidae is classified under the order Carcharhiniformes, which also includes other shark families like Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks) and Scyliorhinidae (catsharks). Conservation efforts for hammerhead sharks are important as some species are under threat due to overfishing for their fins, habitat degradation, and bycatch in fishing operations.
Common Misspellings for SPHYRNIDAE
- aphyrnidae
- zphyrnidae
- xphyrnidae
- dphyrnidae
- ephyrnidae
- wphyrnidae
- sohyrnidae
- slhyrnidae
- s-hyrnidae
- s0hyrnidae
- spgyrnidae
- spbyrnidae
- spnyrnidae
- spjyrnidae
- spuyrnidae
- spyyrnidae
- sphtrnidae
- sphgrnidae
- sphhrnidae
- phyrnidae
Etymology of SPHYRNIDAE
The word "Sphyrnidae" is derived from the Greek word "sphyrna", which means "hammer". It is a combination of "sphyr", meaning "hammer", and the suffix "-idae", used in taxonomy to denote a family. The name "Sphyrnidae" refers to a family of sharks commonly known as hammerhead sharks, characterized by their distinctive hammer-shaped heads.
Similar spelling words for SPHYRNIDAE
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