First Verified Record of the Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) in Coastal Waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico with a Review of their Occurrence in the Western North Atlantic Ocean

• Published in: Southeastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.) Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. N1 - N7
• Main Authors: Deacy, Bethany M., Moncrief-Cox, Heather E., Carlson, John K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Humboldt Field Research Institute 01.03.2020; Eagle Hill Institute
• ISSN: 1528-7092; 1938-5412
• DOI: 10.1656/058.019.0105

Sphyrna zygaena (Smooth Hammerhead) is considered a wide-ranging hammerhead species, though its distribution throughout its range is not well known. The occurrence of this species in the northern Gulf of Mexico is largely unknown, with only limited unverified records in this region. In September of 2017, a Smooth Hammerhead was collected from Florida coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico, representing a confirmed record of this species in this region. To further understand the range of the Smooth Hammerhead, we reviewed available occurrence data throughout the western North Atlantic Ocean, which suggests this species may occasionally transit into the Gulf of Mexico.