Australian researchers have made an astonishing discovery in Antarctica, encountering a rare sight—a sleepy shark lulled by the frigid waters near the seafloor. Captured on camera near the South Shetland Islands, approximately 150 kilometers north of the Antarctic Peninsula, this shark was observed at a remarkable depth of 490 meters below the ocean's surface, where the water temperature hovered just above freezing at 1.27 degrees Celsius.

This finding marks a significant milestone, as experts, including biologist Peter Kyne from Charles Darwin University, have noted that this is the first time sharks have been documented this far south in the Southern Hemisphere. The presence of sharks in such extreme conditions raises intriguing questions about their adaptability and survival in colder climates.

Notably, one hypothesis is that climate change is contributing to the warming of the oceans, which may be pushing sharks further south than they have traditionally been found. This revelation not only highlights the changing dynamics of marine ecosystems in the face of global warming but also calls for further research into how these shifts might impact marine life and biodiversity in Antarctic waters.