Home / Science / Deep Freeze Surprise: Shark Found in Antarctic Waters!
Deep Freeze Surprise: Shark Found in Antarctic Waters!
18 Feb
Summary
- A large sleeper shark was filmed in frigid Antarctic waters.
- This is the first documented shark sighting in the Antarctic Ocean.
- Warming oceans might be pushing sharks into colder regions.
Researchers have captured unprecedented footage of a large sleeper shark in the frigid depths of the Antarctic Ocean. The substantial specimen, estimated at 3 to 4 meters in length, was filmed at a depth of approximately 490 meters near the South Shetland Islands. This discovery challenges previous assumptions, as many experts believed sharks did not inhabit these extremely cold waters.
This marks the first recorded instance of a shark being found in the Antarctic Ocean. Scientists suggest that climate change and warming seas might be influencing marine species' ranges, potentially driving sharks towards colder regions. However, due to the remoteness of Antarctica, data on such shifts is limited. The sleeper shark, being a slow-moving species, might have long inhabited these waters undetected.
The research team utilized a deep-sea camera to document the shark, noting the water temperature was a near-freezing 1.27 degrees Celsius. While a related species, a skate, was also observed and known to inhabit these southern waters, the shark's presence was entirely unexpected. Further research may reveal more about shark populations in this extreme environment.
