admin A mesmerising video of an octopus hitching a ride on a shark’s back has captivated audiences worldwide since researchers at the University of Auckland released it earlier this week.
The remarkable sight was spotted in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf during the summer of 2023, when a team of marine scientists observed a Māori octopus clinging to a shortfin mako shark. While searching for a feeding frenzy, the researchers were stunned to see the unlikely duo cruising the waves together—prompting them to dub the pair ‘sharktopus.’
In a recent blog post, Rochelle Constantine, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Auckland and one of the researchers behind the discovery, recounted how the team first noticed a large dorsal fin cutting through the water. Initially suspecting an injury or a collision with a buoy, they soon spotted an unusual orange patch on the shark’s head.
To investigate further, they launched a drone and deployed a GoPro camera into the water. The footage confirmed the astonishing reality—an octopus had wrapped itself around the shark’s head, its tentacles gripping tightly.
“This ‘sharktopus’ was a truly mysterious find,” Constantine wrote. “Octopuses usually dwell on the seabed, while shortfin mako sharks prefer open waters.”
She explained that the octopus may have been taking advantage of a high-speed ride, as the shortfin mako is the fastest shark species, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h.
Constantine, who specialises in the study of sharks in the Hauraki Gulf—Tīkapa Moana, Te Moananui-ā-Toi—notes that the region is home to a wide variety of sharks. Divers and fishers frequently encounter bronze whalers and smooth hammerheads in shallow waters, while larger open-ocean species such as dusky sharks, blue sharks, and shortfin makos are becoming more common.
She jokingly referred to the mako as the “octopus taxi shark,” highlighting the playful nature of the discovery.
Less is known about smaller seabed-dwelling sharks, such as lemon fish and native carpet sharks, but scientists warn that global shark populations are plummeting due to overfishing, climate change, and low reproductive rates.
For Constantine, the ‘sharktopus’ encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the ocean’s wonders.
“One of the greatest joys of being a marine scientist is the thrill of the unexpected,” she reflected. “By supporting conservation efforts, we can help ensure that incredible moments like this continue to unfold in our oceans.”
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