Skip to Content

Critically endangered great hammerhead shark arrives at SeaWorld

<i>WESH</i><br/>SeaWorld’s 700
/
WESH
SeaWorld’s 700

By Amanda Dukes

Click here for updates on this story

    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — SeaWorld’s 700,000-gallon shark habitat has a new boss.

His name is Dutch! He’s a critically endangered, Great Hammerhead shark that just arrived from the Georgia Aquarium.

“It is a completely unique-looking animal. With the cephalofoil, as we call it, that’s the rostrum or the nose of the animal. The eyes are actually on the end of the eye stalks or the end of the cephalofoil,” Jim Kinsler, SeaWorld Aquarium curator, said.

Kinsler says Great Hammerheads are at the top of the food chain as the most skilled predators in the world of sharks.

Dutch’s oddly placed eyes not only give him a visual advantage, but he can pick up on electrical signals from other fish, including stingrays that might be buried in the sand, one of a hammerhead’s favorite meals

If you’re wondering what Dutch eats, he’s fed a little over one pound of fish six days a week, and on the other day, he fasts.

Kinsler says Great Hammerheads are critical to the health of our oceans.

”They help manage the other fish and animal populations in our oceans. If we didn’t have those apex predators, that could mean those populations would bloom and crash and create real challenges with the natural environment, and it would completely go out of balance,” Kinsler said.

Dutch is estimated to be what’s called a sub-adult or about 5 to 6 years old.

In another two years, when he reaches adulthood, Kinsler says he’ll grow to about 10 feet long and 500 pounds.

If you want to see Dutch, you’ll find him at SeaWorld’s Shark Encounter.

He’s easy to spot; just look for the shark who’s giving you the side eye.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content