Shark Sighted Near Antarctica May Reflect a Shift in Range

Researchers released the first known video of a southern sleeper shark filmed in near-freezing Antarctic waters; the animal was recorded at about 1,640 feet in water near 34°F. Scientists say the shark’s slow metabolism and tissue chemistry help it tolerate cold, and that warmer water corridors or broader ocean warming may explain the sighting.

Researchers released the first known video of a shark swimming in near-freezing Antarctic waters and the recording has drawn attention to where this species can appear. The footage shows a southern sleeper shark filmed by a research camera in January 2025 and released by the Minderoo‑UWA Deep‑Sea Research Centre in February 2026. The animal was observed around 1,640 feet deep in water reported near 34°F. Southern sleeper sharks are typically found farther north in the Southern Ocean, so the sighting prompted questions about why this individual was so far south. Key details: - The shark is identified as a southern sleeper shark (Somniosus antarcticus) and was estimated in the clip to be about 10 to 13 feet long. - The animal was filmed at about 1,640 feet depth in water near 34°F; the camera captured the footage in January 2025 and it was released in February 2026 by the Minderoo‑UWA Deep‑Sea Research Centre. - Southern sleeper sharks have very slow metabolisms and tissues containing urea and trimethylamine N‑oxide (TMAO), traits that support function at near‑freezing temperatures. - The camera was placed in an area described as relatively warmer, and such warmer corridors can allow species to travel farther south than usual. - The article notes climate change and warming seas as a possible explanation, while also allowing that these sharks may have been present previously but not observed. Summary: The sighting shows that southern sleeper sharks can be present in near‑freezing Antarctic waters and raises questions about species distribution and local ocean conditions. Undetermined at this time.