How is the whale shark and hammerhead alike?

Both whale sharks and hammerhead sharks are cartilaginous fish, meaning they have skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone. They also have gills and fins. However, there are some key differences between the two species.

Size: Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, growing up to 18 meters (59 feet) in length. Hammerhead sharks are much smaller, with most species growing to about 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length.

Habitat: Whale sharks live in warm, tropical waters around the world. They are often found in the open ocean, near islands, and coral reefs. Hammerhead sharks also live in warm, tropical waters, but they are more commonly found near shore, in bays, and estuaries.

Diet: Whale sharks are filter feeders, meaning they eat by filtering small particles from the water. Their diet consists mainly of plankton, small fish, and squid. Hammerhead sharks are predators that eat a variety of prey, including fish, squid, octopus, and crustaceans.

Conservation status: Whale sharks are listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hammerhead sharks are listed as "endangered" by the IUCN. Both species are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss.