A Rare Glimpse of a Sleeper Shark in Antarctic Waters

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by Jenny Gross

February 19, 2026

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A rare sighting of a sleeper shark in Antarctic waters has surprised researchers, who captured footage of the 10-to-13-foot shark swimming at depths of nearly 1,600 feet off the South Shetland Islands. This may be the first recorded instance of the species being spotted so far south, challenging previous assumptions about its geographic range. The discovery was made during an expedition in early 2025 by researchers from the University of Western Australia, who were documenting biodiversity and habitats in the region. The video, filmed at a depth of 490 meters (about 1,600 feet) in waters just above freezing point, shows the shark briefly appearing on camera. The scientists were initially unsure what they were seeing, with one researcher expressing disbelief upon spotting the creature. Alan Jamieson, director of the University of Western Australia’s deep-sea research center, described the sighting as a “huge surprise,” noting that researchers had previously believed no sharks inhabited Antarctic waters. The Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Center first shared the video on Instagram in early 2026, but it only gained widespread attention after being covered by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation later that year. This discovery highlights the need to better understand the distribution and migration patterns of deep-sea sharks, which are often understudied due to their elusive nature. This finding is significant because it challenges previous assumptions about shark habitats and suggests that their range may extend farther into extreme environments than previously thought. The research not only contributes to our understanding of marine biodiversity but also underscores

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/19/2026