Sleeper Shark Filmed in Antarctic Waters

Researchers filmed a 10-to-13-foot sleeper shark more than 1,600 feet below the surface off the South Shetland Islands during an early 2025 University of Western Australia expedition. The animal appeared in near-freezing water at about 2 degrees Celsius and may be the first recording of the species that far south.

Alan Jamieson of the Minderoo-U.W.A. Deep-Sea Research Center called the sighting "a huge surprise," adding, "We didn’t think any sharks were in Antarctica." The expedition aimed to document biodiversity and habitats of the South Shetland Trough, and Jamieson said the encounter suggests sharks' geographic ranges are likely broader than previously believed.

The center posted the video on Instagram early last year, but it drew wider attention after coverage by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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