A dead hammerhead washed on shore in Delray Beach overnight from Sunday to Monday, creating a peculiar sight for early morning beachgoers.
The shark was found near a lifeguard tower north of Atlantic Avenue and A1A and is estimated to be between 9 feet and 12 feet long, CBS12 reported.
According to the station, the shark has since been removed and its cause of death is not known. University of Florida shark researcher George Burgess, who maintains the International Shark Attack File, told CBS12 it seems the shark died of natural causes, as he did not see any hooks, nets or other signs of fishing.
See tweets with photos of the shark below:
Hammerhead shark found dead along Delray Beach. https://t.co/jQeXRrRsyGpic.twitter.com/BAZVCKXsBU
— WPEC CBS12 News (@CBS12) November 15, 2016
Shark found dead in Delray Beach.
https://t.co/klbAOZ84nEpic.twitter.com/uIDnhVHlIT— Liz Quirantes (@lizquirantes) November 14, 2016
Wow! 10 foot hammerhead shark washes up on beach this AM. Right by North Tower 2 in Delray Beach off Atlantic Ave. pic.twitter.com/8TEz96mdwC
— Kara Duffy (@KaraDuffyCBS12) November 14, 2016
According to National Geographic, hammerheads range between 13 feet and 20 feet long, and can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They can be found in deep waters or coastal areas.
Of course, sharks are no strangers to South Florida waters. In fact, just last year, Delray and Boca beaches were included on a list of places where people might be able to spot them from shore.
For more about sharks and their behavior, read what these local experts and conversationists have to say about the enigmatic creatures.
(Shark image via Twitter/CBS12)
A dead hammerhead washed on shore in Delray Beach overnight from Sunday to Monday, creating a peculiar sight for early morning beach goers.