A smooth hammerhead shark ( Sphyrna zygaena) from south-west England

The first confirmed record of a smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) in British waters for 140 years is described. The head section of the specimen was found washed ashore in relatively good condition at Portreath, south-west England, in December 2004. Evidence suggests it was not a fishery discard, and, like most other previous records of this species in British waters, probably came ashore moribund or dead.