• First-ever footage of an Antarctic sleeper shark caught on camera.
• Shark measures between 10 and 13 feet in length.
• Discovery challenges previous beliefs about shark presence in Antarctic waters.
• Filmed at a depth of 1,608 feet in near-freezing temperatures.
• Research suggests climate change may be shifting shark habitats.

A remarkable occurrence has taken place in the frigid depths of Antarctica: a sleeper shark was filmed for the first time ever. This unexpected sight features a substantial shark, measuring between 10 and 13 feet, moving sluggishly over a barren seabed at a depth of 1,608 feet. Researcher Alan Jamieson emphasizes that prior assumptions generally held that sharks do not inhabit these icy waters, stating, "We went down there not expecting to see sharks because there’s a general rule of thumb that you don’t get sharks in Antarctica," according to scmp, npr, cbsnews, and latimes.

The footage was taken by a camera operated by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre positioned off the South Shetland Islands, which lies within the Antarctic Ocean, also referred to as the Southern Ocean. This discovery is significant as it challenges previous beliefs, with both Jamieson and fellow researcher Peter Kyne noting the absence of records of sharks in Antarctic waters. Kyne remarked, "It’s quite significant," according to scmp, npr, cbsnews, and latimes.

The observation of this sleeper shark occurred at a depth where the temperature was measured at a near-freezing 1.27 degrees Celsius (34.29 degrees Fahrenheit). With limited research conducted in these remote areas, Jamieson speculates that sleeper sharks could have existed in Antarctica undetected for quite some time. Furthermore, climate change may be influencing the shift of sharks into these colder regions, though data is limited regarding their migration patterns, as noted by Kyne, according to scmp, npr, cbsnews, and latimes.

Only a limited number of research cameras operate at these depths, and those available can only function during the Southern Hemisphere summer months, from December to February. "The other 75% of the year, no one’s looking at all," Jamieson stated, suggesting that this apparent absence of monitoring may lead to further unexpected discoveries, according to scmp, npr, cbsnews, and latimes.