An unusual and bulky shark was spotted leisurely swimming over a desolate seabed in the deep, dark waters of Antarctica, defying prior beliefs that sharks were absent in the region. Researchers were surprised by the appearance of this sleeper shark, estimated to be between three to four meters in length, captured on video in January 2025.
Alan Jamieson, a researcher, expressed astonishment at the encounter, stating that they did not anticipate encountering sharks in Antarctica due to the common assumption that they did not inhabit those waters. The shark observed was a robust specimen, described by Jamieson as a formidable presence, emphasizing its tank-like build.
The footage was recorded by a camera deployed by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre off the South Shetland Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula within the Antarctic Ocean’s confines below the 60-degree south latitude line. The camera, authorized by the centre, revealed the shark at a depth of 490 meters in near-freezing water measuring 1.27 degrees Celsius.
Accompanying the shark in the video was a skate, a shark relative resembling a stingray, seemingly unperturbed by the passing predator. Scientists were not surprised by the skate’s presence, as they were aware of their range extending to the southern regions.
According to Jamieson, who heads the research center, no previous records of sharks in the Antarctic Ocean were found. Peter Kyne, a conservation biologist at Charles Darwin University, concurred, noting the lack of historical documentation of sharks in that far southern region.
The possibility of climate change driving sharks to the colder waters of the Southern Hemisphere was raised, although limited data on range shifts near Antarctica exists due to the region’s isolation. The sparse population of sleeper sharks in the Antarctic Ocean makes them challenging for human detection, highlighting the significance of the captured footage.
The photographed shark was observed at a consistent depth of around 500 meters along a sloping seabed, a strategic position to access warmer water layers below the surface. The Antarctic Ocean’s complex layering, extending to about 1,000 meters, creates unique habitats where deep-sea creatures like sharks may thrive.
Jamieson speculated that other Antarctic sharks likely inhabit similar depths, sustaining themselves by scavenging on carcasses of marine life that sink to the ocean floor. Research cameras positioned at these specific depths are limited and operational only during the Southern Hemisphere summer months, leaving vast periods unmonitored.
The periodic discovery of surprises like the Antarctic shark underscores the importance of continuous monitoring efforts in the region, as highlighted by Jamieson.
