Shark Caught on Camera for First Time in Antarctica's Near-Freezing Deep
Sleeper shark discovery challenges longstanding assumption that sharks cannot survive Antarctic waters
Researchers from the University of Western Australia captured the footage using deep-sea video cameras deployed in Antarctic waters in January 2025. The sleeper shark was spotted swimming into the spotlight of the camera at significant depth.
Many marine biologists had long believed Antarctica was shark-free, with the Southern Ocean's extreme cold acting as a natural barrier. The discovery suggests these deep-water predators are more adaptable than previously thought.
Sleeper sharks are known for inhabiting cold, deep waters in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, but their presence in Antarctic waters was not previously confirmed with visual evidence.
Analysis
Why This Matters
The discovery forces a rethink of Antarctic marine ecosystems and the role of apex predators in polar food webs. It also raises questions about what other species may be lurking undiscovered in the deep Southern Ocean.
Background
Sleeper sharks are slow-moving deep-water predators related to the Greenland shark, which can live for centuries. Their presence in both polar regions would make them among the most widely distributed shark families on Earth.
What to Watch
Further deep-sea surveys to determine whether this is an isolated individual or evidence of an established Antarctic population.