Bonnethead sharks are a type of hammerhead, but unlike others in this group, the head is shaped in a semi-circle. The eyes are located on either end of the head, which provides a greater field of vision, but does cause the shark to roll its head from side to side in order to see directly in front of it. The shape of the head also helps to identify the sex of the individual; males will develop a bump along the front edge of their head, while the head of a female remains uniformly curved.
Bonnethead sharks must keep swimming continuously in order to flush oxygen-rich water across their gills and will travel great distances each day. Migrations occur each year to keep the Bonnethead shark in the warmer waters it prefers. These sharks are able to communicated with others of their species through the use of a chemical, known as cerebrospinal fluid, though more research is needed to understand this system.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Bonnethead shark population as Least Concern due to high population growth rate, short generation length, and this species not being overfished. Least Concern populations are those that are unlikely to become extinct in the near future