Polar and deep-sea faunas both exist in similar conditions of cold and pulsed nutrient input. The theories of and evidence for the origin Of both global deep-sea and Antarctic shallow ',vater faunas are considered, and deemed to be linked to palaco-climatological and tectonic events. The differences between Arctic and Antarctic benthic marine communities are discussed and compared with rhe similarities between deep-sea and Antarctic shallow water communities. A preliminary look at eurybathy in Antarctic organisms shows that echinoderms and some molluscs such as brachiopods have large depth ranges, however the data is not sufficient to draw any significant conclusions. Polar and deep-sea faunas both exist in similar conditions of cold and pulsed nutrient input. The theories of and evidence for the origin Of both global deep-sea and Antarctic shallow ',vater faunas are considered, and deemed to be linked to palaco-climatological and tectonic events. The differences between Arctic and Antarctic benthic marine communities are discussed and compared with rhe similarities between deep-sea and Antarctic shallow water communities. A preliminary look at eurybathy in Antarctic organisms shows that echinoderms and some molluscs such as brachiopods have large depth ranges, however the data is not sufficient to draw any significant conclusions.