An unexpectedly large sleeper shark was captured on camera cruising calmly over a desolate seabed in the deep, sun-deprived waters of Antarctica. Prior to this sighting in January 2025, experts believed sharks were absent from the frigid Antarctic region. The shark, estimated to be between three to four meters in length, was a robust specimen that defied the common belief that sharks do not inhabit Antarctica.
Filmed by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre’s camera near the Antarctic Peninsula, the shark was spotted at a depth of 490 meters in water with a temperature of 1.27 degrees Celsius. Despite the chilling conditions, the shark shared the frame with a motionless skate, a shark relative resembling a stingray, which was not a surprise to scientists due to their known range extending southward.
According to Alan Jamieson, the director of the research center, there is no documented evidence of another shark being found in the Antarctic Ocean. Peter Kyne, an independent conservation biologist, concurred that this shark discovery marked a significant southernmost record. The possibility of climate change driving sharks towards the colder waters of the Southern Hemisphere was raised, but limited data on range shifts near Antarctica hinders conclusive findings.
The sleeper shark population in the Antarctic Ocean is believed to be sparse and elusive, existing in deeper layers where they scavenge on the remains of deceased marine creatures. The Antarctic Ocean’s stratified layers, extending to about 1,000 meters, create distinct water properties that support diverse marine life at varying depths. While the recent footage sheds light on these elusive creatures, the remote and seasonal nature of Antarctic research poses challenges in further exploration and understanding of the region’s marine ecosystem.