Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus 1758) —Smooth hammerhead

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Zygoena malleus, Val. by Gruvel (1931: 75); subsequently recorded as Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus 1758) by George et al. (1964: 9); as Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 60); as Sphyrna zygaena (Linnnaeus 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 52–53). Material in collection: AUBM.

Distribution. Circumglobal in warm temperate seas, occasionally in tropical seas (including Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (VU: A2bd+3bd+4bd, 1 October 2005); Med. (CR: A2bd, 25 March 2016); CITES Appendix II. The capture, transportation, storage or commercialization of this species is forbidden in Lebanon. Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, unknown. Occurrence: Very rare. Significant decline in the last two decades. High priority for conservation action .