First-Ever Footage from South China Sea Stuns Marine Scientists
In a groundbreaking deep sea discovery, sleeper sharks were caught on camera in the South China Sea feeding on a cow carcass—marking the southernmost sighting ever of this cold-water predator. Not only did the sharks appear far from their known range, but they also revealed behaviors never before seen in this part of the ocean.
Unexpected Guests in the Deep
When scientists from Sun Yat-sen University and the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory dropped a dead cow nearly 1.6 kilometers below the surface southeast of Hainan Island, they expected deep-sea scavengers. But what they captured instead changed what we know about marine life in these depths.
On video appeared Pacific sleeper sharks—giant, slow-moving predators typically found in colder northern waters like the Bering Sea or the Gulf of Alaska. Their presence in the South China Sea was a complete surprise.
Expanding the Sleeper Shark Map
The Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus) has now officially extended its known habitat range. This rare footage marks the first-ever recorded presence of these sharks in the South China Sea. Even more fascinating, all sharks observed were female, hinting that the region might serve as a nursery ground—just as it does for megamouth sharks.
Larger sharks over 2.7 meters long tore into the carcass, while smaller ones circled, waiting their turn. The entire scene painted a picture of deep-sea order amid chaos.
Queuing Behavior: A Deep-Sea Oddity
Perhaps the most unexpected behavior caught on camera was queuing. Instead of fighting for a spot at the carcass, sharks arriving from behind were given feeding priority over those already eating.
This surprising form of non-aggressive hierarchy mirrors behaviors seen in whale carcass scavenging closer to the surface. It suggests these deep-sea predators may have developed evolved strategies for feeding that reduce conflict and injury in the pitch-black depths.
Eye Retraction: A Defensive Evolution
Another key observation was the sharks’ eye retraction during feeding. Without a protective membrane like many other predators, Pacific sleeper sharks retract their eyes into their sockets to shield them from damage—a clever defense while tearing into large prey.
This behavior has rarely been documented and adds yet another fascinating layer to the sharks’ survival toolkit.
What Does This Mean for Deep-Sea Life?
The sharks’ aggressive yet orderly feeding, combined with their sheer presence so far south, hints at richer food sources in the South China Sea than scientists previously believed.
Now, researchers aim to uncover what sustains such large-bodied predators in these deep waters. Is there a hidden ecosystem of nutrient-rich life supporting them? These are the questions that this cow drop has raised.
Why These Sharks Stand Out
Unlike their high-speed cousins, Pacific sleeper sharks rely on stealth, patience, and scavenging. Though not the fastest, they are among the largest deep-sea predators, growing up to 7 meters long. That places them just behind gentle filter feeders like the whale shark.
Their unexpected appearance and complex behaviors underscore how little we truly know about Earth’s deepest oceans—and how many surprises may still lie beneath.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more wild wonders from the deep.
