Feeding a Bonnethead Shark at Aquarium Encounters in Florida Keys

The bonnethead shark has a unique, broad, and smooth head that resembles a spade or shovel. It boasts the smallest cephalofoil (hammerhead) among all Sphyrna species.
Its body coloration is grey-brown on the upper side and lighter on the underside.
Typically, bonnethead sharks measure around 80-90 cm (2.6-3.0 ft) in length, with a maximum size of about 150 cm (4.9 ft)
Bonnethead sharks are the only sharks known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in head morphology.
Adult females have a broadly rounded head, while males possess a distinct bulge along the anterior margin of their cephalofoil.
Unlike most hammerhead sharks, bonnetheads actively use their pectoral fins for swimming.
Their smaller cephalofoil isn’t as effective for maneuvering, so they rely on a combination of cephalofoils and large pectoral fins.
These fins control pitching (up-and-down motion), yawing (side-to-side motion), and rolling
They feed on a variety of prey, including:
Live or Previously Frozen Shrimp
Live or Dead Bait Fish
Chopped Squid
Bonnethead sharks inhabit the littoral zone of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
They are also found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
These sharks thrive in inshore tropical waters
The bonnethead shark is currently classified as Endangered by the IUCN.
Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this unique species