Bonnethead in their hindgut. The bonnethead shark is viviparous. Females reach sexual maturity at about 32 in, while males reach maturity around 24 in. Four to 12 pups are born in late summer and early fall, measuring . Bonnetheads have one of the shortest gestation periods among sharks, lasting only 4.5–5.0 months. A bonnethead female produced a pup by parthenogenesis. The birth took place at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Nebraska; DNA analysis showed a perfect match between mother and pup. The bonnethead is an abundant species and is currently classified as a least-concern species by the IUCN. It is heavily
Scalloped bonnethead mallet-shaped head, called a cephalofoil, is moderately wide (24-29% of total length) and elongated lengthwise. The front margin is broadly arched, with shallow lateral and medial indentations, and no prenarial grooves. The mouth is small and strongly arched. The anal fin is long and has a nearly straight rear margin. Its coloration is gray above and white below, with no prominent fin markings. The similar scoophead ("Sphyrna media") can be distinguished by a shorter snout, a broader mouth, and a deeply concave anal fin margin. Like other hammerheads, the scalloped bonnethead is viviparous, with presumably two pups per litter. The