Massive Vertical Range: Pacific Sleeper Sharks Move Between Surface and Abyss

Few large vertebrates consistently occupy both polar surface waters and deep ocean basins.

This span exposes a single individual to dramatic shifts in light, temperature, and pressure that would fragment most marine species into separate ecological niches.

By bridging these extremes, the shark connects surface-driven food webs with deep benthic systems, redistributing energy across ocean layers that are usually isolated by physical barriers.