Living BeingsCompare species
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
African Golden Cat
Caracal auratus
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Scalloped Hammerhead | African Golden Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | The head is broad and flattened, with a curved, indented front margin. The body has a tall first dorsal fin and a pale underside. | The body is robust and the coat varies between reddish and grayish forms. Spotting can be more visible on some parts of the body. |
| Habitat and range | Coastal shelves, island slopes and offshore waters are used at different ages and times. | Dense African forest and secondary growth provide cover and hunting habitat. |
| Diet and nutrition | Fish and cephalopods are important prey. Feeding changes as sharks move from coastal juvenile habitat to deeper waters. | Rodents and other forest mammals are important prey. Birds and additional small animals may also be taken. |
| Behavior and activity | Schooling and movements between daytime gathering sites and feeding areas are characteristic in some populations. | It is generally solitary and difficult to observe in dense cover. Sparse observations should not be treated as a complete account of its daily behavior. |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Females give birth to live young. Shallow coastal habitats provide nursery areas for juveniles. | Data unavailable |
| Geographic distribution | The species occurs in warm seas around the world. Its presence is uneven, and local populations can be strongly depleted. | The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Benin?, Burundi?, Gambia?, Guinea-Bissau?, Kenya?, Rwanda?, Senegal?, Sudan?, Togo?. |
| Ecological role | These sharks are large marine predators and also host parasites and visiting cleaner fish. | Data unavailable |
| Distinctive adaptations | The expanded head spreads sensory organs across a broad surface, supporting prey detection. | Data unavailable |
| Conservation | Targeted fishing, bycatch and loss of nursery habitat are major pressures. Protection needs to consider more than adult aggregation sites. | Data unavailable |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Gnathostomata.