News - Unexpected Antarctic Encounter: Sleeper Shark Filmed in Icy Depths

In a remarkable marine discovery, researchers have captured what is believed to be the first-ever footage of a sleeper shark navigating the frigid waters of Antarctica. This unusual sighting, recorded by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, has overturned long-standing beliefs that such creatures do not inhabit these frozen depths. In January 2025, the camera, strategically placed off the coast of the South Shetland Islands, captured a sleeper shark estimated to be between 10 and 13 feet long. The video revealed the shark gliding over a barren seabed at a depth of 1,608 feet, where the waters were a near-freezing 34.29 degrees Fahrenheit. The presence of this majestic, tank-like shark in the Southern Ocean—previously thought to be too inhospitable for such species—has stirred scientific intrigue and prompted experts to reassess the region’s ecological dynamics. The footage also includes a skate, a related species resembling a stingray, which seemed undisturbed by the shark—a testament to the unexpected biodiversity in these icy depths. Research center founder Alan Jamieson and Charles Darwin University's conservation biologist Peter Kyne herald the sighting as unprecedented, agreeing no prior records exist of sharks venturing so far south. This discovery could suggest changes linked to climate change, potentially pushing marine life into colder waters as ocean temperatures rise globally. However, such hypotheses are exploratory due to limited research capacity and challenging access to Antarctica’s remote and stratified ocean layers. Sleeper sharks, known for their slow movement, may have thrived unnoticed in Antarctic waters for years, concealed by the sparse network of research cameras that explore these depths only during the brief Southern Hemisphere summer. Indeed, the elusive nature of these sharks, likely feeding on the remnants of deep-sea ecological systems, highlights the vast and largely unexplored world beneath the icy Antarctic surface. The revelation of a possible sleeper shark population invites further scientific inquiry into Antarctica's marine life and encourages ongoing exploration of these hidden oceans. Such findings illuminate the complex interactions within Earth's least understood and harshest environments, guiding future conservation and climate adaptation strategies.