In an unexpected turn of events, a large and slow-moving sleeper shark was spotted gliding over a desolate seabed deep beneath the sun’s reach in Antarctica. Researcher Alan Jamieson revealed that many experts had believed sharks were absent in the frigid Antarctic waters until this remarkable sighting in January 2025. The footage captured by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre showcased a massive shark estimated to be between three to four meters in length.
Despite conventional wisdom suggesting otherwise, the presence of such a substantial shark in Antarctica surprised the researchers. The camera, strategically positioned off the South Shetland Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula, managed to capture the rare moment at a depth of 490 meters with a bone-chilling water temperature of 1.27 degrees Celsius.
Notably, the shark shared the frame with a motionless skate on the seabed, demonstrating a peaceful coexistence. The skate, a shark relative resembling a stingray, was a familiar sight to scientists due to its known range extending deep into the southern waters.
Experts like Peter Kyne, an independent conservation biologist, highlighted the significance of this discovery, emphasizing that such sightings could be linked to climate change and shifting ocean temperatures. The unique habitat of the Antarctic Ocean, with its complex layers and diverse marine life, offers a haven for these elusive creatures.
Jamieson, the director of the research center, expressed optimism about the potential for more discoveries in the Antarctic depths, where marine predators like sleeper sharks likely thrive on the abundant food supply. Limited monitoring during the region’s winter months leaves much of the ocean unexplored, making chance encounters with marine marvels like this shark all the more remarkable.