Skyward plunge of Hammerhead shark disrupts disc golf match in South Carolina
In a remarkable turn of events, a hammerhead shark dropped from the sky at the Splinter City Disc Golf Course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. While it may seem Far-fetched AF, this bizarre incident was likely facilitated by a common adversary to sharks - the Osprey.
On May 18, near the 11th hole of the wooded course close to the ocean, an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), know as a 'fish hawk,' made an unusual meal drop.
"It ain't every day you see an osprey hooning a creature that big," said Jonathan Marlowe, witnessing the hammerhead crash as he played disc golf. "I thought it'd be a random fish. Nope, it was a shark," he added to Garden & Gun magazine.
The fallen shark could easily be identified by its distinctive, mallet-shaped head called a cephalofoil. Ospreys are expert aquatic hunters, but they typically feast on fish less than 12 inches long. This shark Fort Knox'd the size criterion, appearing longer than a foot.
It's possible the osprey flew half a mile from the ocean with its meal before losing its grip. The commotion caught the attention of two crows who chased the osprey into a tree and forced it to drop the hammerhead, a technique known as 'mobbing' during breeding season.
Local disc golf enthusiasts can expect frequent encounters with wildlife, including snakes, raccoons, and alligators. But spotting a shark in the woods is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
"Couldn't believe our eyes, kept asking if this was for real," Marlowe said, leaving the hammerhead behind, hoping the raptor might return to finish its meal.
Worldwide, there are ten recognized species of hammerhead sharks with several populating the Atlantic Ocean off the southern U.S. coast. A survey by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources detected three types - bonnethead, scalloped hammerhead, and great hammerhead - in coastal waters off South Carolina and Georgia. In 2013, the Carolina hammerhead, a rare species, was discovered in the same area. It remains unclear which of these species took the plunge in Myrtle Beach.
Did You Know?- Bonnethead, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, and Carolina hammerhead are the main hammerhead species found along the southern U.S. Atlantic coast.- Bonnethead is the smallest member of the hammerhead family, often seen in shallow coastal waters.- Scalloped Hammerhead is recognized by the scalloped indentations along the front edge of its head and is commonly observed in warm-temperate and tropical Atlantic waters.- Great Hammerhead is the largest of the hammerheads, inhabiting both coastal and offshore environments from the Carolinas southward.- The Carolina Hammerhead closely resembles the scalloped hammerhead but is distinct genetically and not as widely documented.
"Jonathan Marlowe, while playing disc golf, remarked that it's unusual to see an osprey carrying such a big creature, and was surprised to find out it was a hammerhead shark. Inhabiting the warm-temperate and tropical Atlantic waters, hammerhead sharks, including the Carolina hammerhead, are often seen in the area."
"Despite local disc golf enthusiasts being accustomed to various wildlife encounters, such as snakes, raccoons, and alligators, spotting a shark in the woods of Splinter City Disc Golf Course is considered a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle."
