Rare ocean predator with 360-degree perception spotted off Massachusetts, photos show

A strange-shaped ocean attacker was spotted scouring the waters off Cape Cod on July 20.

Photos shared by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy show a smooth hammerhead shark swimming at the surface of the ocean near Monomoy Island. In the images, that legendary mallet-like skull casts a distinctive dark shadow beneath the green water.

While Cape Cod is a known hotspot for white sharks, hammerheads are far less common.

“What an incredible (and rare) smooth hammerhead sighting,” the organization said in their post.

Smooth hammerheads are a shark species with extraordinary depth perception. Their rectangular heads allow their eyes to see 360 degrees, according to Oceana.

“Like most sharks, smooth hammerhead sharks have special sensory cells in their heads used to detect electric fields produced by other fishes,” the organization said. “These electroreceptors allow them to more accurately locate prey, especially those buried in the sand like stingrays.”

Smooth hammerheads use their gavel-shaped skulls to pin down their prey before devouring them.

While hammerheads are ruthless hunters to their prey, they are usually harmless to humans, preferring to keep their distance from people, reports The Surfing Handbook. However, beachgoers should give hammerheads a wide radius, just to ensure safety.