The “scalloped” adjective in their name comes from the distinct notches found along the front edge of their broadly arched cephalofoil—their iconic "hammer head"—which gives it a scallop-like shape. Scalloped Hammerheads are also different from other hammerhead sharks by having a prominent indentation at the middle of their heads.

With a strong sense of smell and electroreceptors, these active predators are well-equipped for hunting. Their wide, hammer-shaped heads give them almost 360-degree vision and a larger surface area to pick up faint electrical signals, helping them detect prey hidden on the seafloor.

Scalloped Hammerheads are remarkable sharks, but they are now critically endangered due to heavy fishing pressure worldwide—both targeted and accidental. Because they exhibit migratory schooling behaviour, hundreds of adults tend to gather at one location, which makes them especially vulnerable to mass harvesting.