A Rare Glimpse of a Sleeper Shark in Antarctic Waters

In early 2025, researchers from the University of Western Australia captured video footage of a sleeper shark in Antarctic waters off the South Shetland Islands. This sighting, at a depth of 1,600 feet, may be the first recording of this species so far south. The expedition aimed to document biodiversity in the South Shetland Trough. The unexpected discovery suggests that the geographical range of sleeper sharks is likely more extensive than previously understood. Experts believe the sharks may have always been present but undetected due to a lack of camera deployments in the area.

In January 2025, researchers from the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre captured the first-ever video footage of an Antarctic sleeper shark in the Antarctic Ocean near the South Shetland Islands. The unexpected discovery challenges the common belief that sharks do not inhabit the frigid Antarctic waters. The shark, estimated to be between 10 and 13 feet long, was filmed by a camera positioned on the seabed. The footage provides new insights into the biodiversity of the Southern Ocean and expands the known range of shark habitats. The research centre released the images to the Associated Press, making them publicly available.