Scalloped Hammerhead (BJ Toy Company)

Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972

For Shark Week this year, I’m covering this charming plush hammerhead from BJ Toy Company. I acquired it back in 2009 when I visited the Memphis Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee. And it ended up coming in rather handy when my suitcase got lost on the flight back home. For you see, when I got in touch with the airline’s baggage department, we confirmed which suitcase was mine when the attendant opened it up and saw the shark inside!

This is one of the smaller plush sharks in my possession. It measures 43 long from the front of the head to the upper tip of the caudal fin and 20 cm wide from eye to eye. It is coloured light brown and white with black and off white plastic eyes, gold stitched gills, and a black mouth with white teeth.

Identifying this toy as a specific species of hammerhead is iffy, as it is more than likely that the manufacturer did not intend for it to be one. Nevertheless, based on the shape of the head and the stout dorsal fin, I’m going with the scalloped hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini. As you can see, the head is disproportionately large compared to the body. It also only has four gill slits on either side as opposed to the correct five.

On the positive side, this hammerhead has all the correct fins positioned in all the correct spots, and the upper caudal fin is much longer than the lower one, which is standard for all hammerhead sharks. The teeth consist simply of a small strip of felt running along the upper jaw, but their presence is appreciated nonetheless. It’s a cute and endearing toy to be sure, and that’s generally the main goal of any plush.

Overall then, I remain very fond of this little hammerhead, as do my two young boys. Given how few images of it are to be found online, I believe it is no longer in production, but I have seen other hammerhead plushes since, so I’m sure you can find something that suits your fancy!