Latest news with #RochelleConstantine
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Sharktopus Encounter: No, It's Not An April Fool's Joke.
'One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea.' That was certainly the case for marine biologist Professor Rochelle Constantine and her colleagues at the University of Auckland, who did not expect to find an octopus riding a shark. But that's exactly what they witnessed in December 2023 while surveying the waters of the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, off the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island. The Hauraki Gulf is a vast and ecologically rich body of water that stretches from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island. The gulf's dynamic environment includes deep channels, sandy bays, and rocky reefs, making it an important habitat for both coastal and pelagic species. It is also a significant area for conservation efforts, as human activity, climate change, and overfishing have impacted its ecosystems. 'A large metallic grey dorsal fin signalled a big shark, a short-fin mako. But wait, what was that orange patch on its head? A buoy? An injury?" Constantine recalls. "We launched the drone, put the GoPro in the water and saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched atop the shark's head, clinging on with its tentacles.' It was a startling discovery. Afterall, shortfin mako sharks, the fastest sharks in the world, can reach speeds of up to over 31 mph (50 kph). They typically hunt fast-moving fish like tuna and mackerel near the ocean's surface, while octopuses tend to stick to the seafloor, preferring rocky reefs and hiding spots. The two species don't often cross paths, making this… well, encounter, especially unusual. 'We really don't know how this octopus, that lives on the seabed, came across this [10-foot-long] An underwater camera confirmed the enormous Māori octopus (Octopus maorum) was alive and actively moving. The scientists observed the sharktopus — the unofficial nickname for the peculiar duo — for 10 minutes. To their surprise, the mako showed no signs of stress. Normally, a shark with something foreign on its body would react aggressively, twisting and shaking to remove it. But this shark swam along calmly, seemingly unbothered. 'We moved on after 10 minutes so I can't tell you how what happened next. The octopus may have been in for quite the experience,' Constantine said. The Māori octopus is one of the largest octopus species found in the waters around New Zealand and southern Australia. Weighing up to 26 pounds (12 kg) and with an arm span reaching nearly 10 feet (3 m), this formidable cephalopod is known for its intelligence, adaptability, and ability to change color and texture to blend into its surroundings. It primarily inhabits coastal and deep-sea environments, preferring rocky reefs and sandy seafloors where it can hunt crabs, fish, and other small marine creatures. Like other octopuses, it has a short lifespan — typically only a couple of years — and reproduces only once before dying. Its nocturnal nature and remarkable camouflage abilities make it a challenging species to study, adding to the intrigue surrounding this fascinating predator. What exactly led to this encounter remains an open question. Constantine speculated that the octopus might have been using the shark as a temporary refuge, perhaps to escape a predator or avoid detection. Octopuses are known for their intelligence and problem-solving abilities, so it's not impossible that this one saw an opportunity and took it. Another theory is that the mako may have ventured unusually close to the seafloor, where the octopus could have mistaken it for a rock or another surface to hide on. The shark's slow movement may have allowed the octopus to stay latched on, but if the mako had picked up speed, the octopus likely would have been forced off. And if that happened, the shark, which preys on squid and other cephalopods, might have taken the opportunity to make a meal out of its unexpected passenger. While rare, cephalopods interacting with sharks isn't unheard of. In some cases, octopuses have been observed defending themselves from sharks by wrapping their arms around the predator's head, sometimes even suffocating smaller sharks. But this brief partnership remained peaceful, at least for the duration of the scientists' observations. Shortfin makos are formidable predators, but they're also highly threatened. Listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, these sharks face significant pressure from commercial fishing, particularly due to bycatch and demand for their meat and fins. Despite their speed and hunting prowess, they are vulnerable to human activity, with populations in decline due to overfishing. Constantine hopes that encounters like this one highlight the importance of conserving marine species, not just for their ecological roles but for the incredible, unpredictable behaviors they exhibit in the wild: 'By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening.' The shark and octopus eventually parted ways, with the cephalopod likely dropping off into the depths and the mako continuing on its course. The sighting left the researchers with more questions than answers… but that's the beauty of studying the ocean. It is vast, mysterious, and full of surprises.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Real life 'sharktopus'? Scientists share video of strange shark-octopus encounter
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. A very strange marine life encounter caught on video left scientists baffled when it was first spotted in New Zealand waters in 2023. More than a fanciful shark-octopus hybrid featured in low-budget sci-fi films of the 2010s, the "sharktopus" has been spotted in real life - well, kind of. The sighting was not that of some mish-mashed genetic oddity but rather a normal octopus hitching a ride on the back of a very real shark. Researchers from the University of Auckland spotted the odd pair in December 2023 during an expedition off the Northern coast in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island. But it was an article written by biologist professor and participating researcher Rochelle Constantine, published by the university last week, that piqued public interest. "A large metallic grey dorsal fin signalled a big shark, a short-fin mako," Constantine wrote in the piece published March 11. "But wait, what was that orange patch on its head? A buoy? An injury? We launched the drone, put the GoPro in the water and saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched atop the shark's head, clinging on with its tentacles." More news: A North Carolina animal shelter gets creative with 'Poorly Drawn Pets' fundraiser The encounter was strange beyond the fact that the orange blob looked rather like a bold fashion statement secured to the shark's head. Of the approximately 300 species of octopus scattered across every ocean on Earth, the vast majority of them live on the seafloor, with only a few types sometimes venturing closer to the water's surface. They mostly feed on animals classified as bottom feeders, including crabs, shrimp, and mollusks, according to National Geographic. Sharks, on the other hand, generally live and hunt close to the water's surface. And short-fin mako sharks, like the one serving as a mount for the octopus, not only don't tend to venture into the deep but are also impressively fast swimmers capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour, according to Ocean Conservancy. How these two managed to cross paths, then, is anyone's guess, said Constantine, who also said the team only observed the odd pair for about 10 minutes. At speeds like that, however, that brave octopus may have been in for one heck of a ride. 'One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea," Constantine wrote. "By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Octopus hitches ride on a shark in 'sharktopus' sighting: Watch video
CBC
25-03-2025
- Science
- CBC
Rare sighting of a 'sharktopus' leaves onlookers stunned and puzzled
Marine biologist Rochelle Constantine and her research team encountered something completely unexpected during a research trip off New Zealand's northern coast — a sight that left them absolutely stunned. While observing a shortfin mako shark swimming through the waters in December 2023, something strange caught their eye. "It had a really large orangey-brown shape on its head," Constantine, who recently shared the discovery in a blog post, told As It Happens host Nil Köksal. "We're like, 'Oh, is it entangled in a buoy, [or] some sort of fishing gear? Or maybe, [it] had an injury, because injuries often have unusual colours under the water.'" To get to the bottom of it, the team steered their boat closer to the shark, deployed a drone for aerial shots and stuck a GoPro in the water to get a closer look. What they discovered was far from what they expected: the mysterious blob was actually a Maori octopus clinging to the shark's head. "It was definitely working to keep itself very contained on top," said Constantine, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Auckland. "You could see a tentacle … stray out every now and then." It didn't take long for the team to give the uncanny duo a name. "It got named almost instantly on the water," Constantine said. "The sharktopus." A very unlikely pair The Maori octopus, the largest octopus in the Southern Hemisphere, lives deep below and feeds on the seabed, says Constantine. Meanwhile, the mako shark typically swims above in the mid-water, diving to great depths but rarely, if ever, approaching the ocean floor. "How they actually found each other is the greatest mystery," said Constantine. "They have very different worlds." Constantine says scientists can only speculate about what brought them together. "I think as long as the octopus stays away from the mako shark's mouth, they're probably definitely buddies," she said. University of Victoria marine biologist Verena Tunnicliffe, who was not involved in the expedition, says the octopus probably fell prey to the shark, and was hiding on its back. "It's a very bright animal – where's the safest place? [I] guess it's hoping it will be able to slip off without notice," said Tunnicliffe. "I can't imagine it thought this would be a joyride, but you never know." Keeping it a mystery Though how the sharktopus came to be remains a mystery, the encounter has sparked widespread interest around the world. And Constantine is all for the chatter and attention that the "sharktopus" has generated. "I really loved that all over the world, and all these languages, people are talking about, 'Well, what is that? Why would they find each other? What is going on?'" For Constantine, the unexpected encounter serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about the ocean and its incredible creatures, while nudging us to be better stewards of it. "The lives of these animals is so much more than how we perceive them," she said. "I think that's true of everything in the ocean. I really want people to just stop and reflect on how much we don't know, how cool the ocean is and how important it is for us."
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Real life 'sharktopus'? Scientists share video of strange shark-octopus encounter
Real life 'sharktopus'? Scientists share video of strange shark-octopus encounter A very strange marine life encounter caught on video left scientists baffled when it was first spotted in New Zealand waters in 2023. More than a fanciful shark-octopus hybrid featured in low-budget sci-fi films of the 2010s, the "sharktopus" has been spotted in real life - well, kind of. The sighting was not that of some mish-mashed genetic oddity but rather a normal octopus hitching a ride on the back of a very real shark. Researchers from the University of Aukland spotted the odd pair in December 2023 during an expedition off the Northern coast in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island. But it was an article written by biologist professor and participating researcher Rochelle Constantine published by the university last week that piqued public interest. "A large metallic grey dorsal fin signalled a big shark, a short-fin mako," Constantine wrote in the piece published March 11. "But wait, what was that orange patch on its head? A buoy? An injury? We launched the drone, put the GoPro in the water and saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched atop the shark's head, clinging on with its tentacles." Watch the video here Octopus takes ride on a shark's back An octopus taking a ride on a shark's back in New Zealand surprised a research team from the University of Auckland. More news: A North Carolina animal shelter gets creative with 'Poorly Drawn Pets' fundraiser 'Sharktopus': Strange but close encounter The encounter was strange beyond the fact that the orange blob looked rather like a bold fashion statement secured to the shark's head. Of the approximately 300 species of octopus scattered across every ocean on Earth, the vast majority of them live on the seafloor, with only a few types sometimes venturing closer to the water's surface. They mostly feed on animals classified as bottom feeders, including crabs, shrimp, and mollusks, according to National Geographic. Sharks, on the other hand, generally live and hunt close to the water's surface. And short-fin mako sharks, like the one serving as a mount for the octopus, not only don't tend to venture into the deep but are also impressively fast swimmers capable of reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour, according to Ocean Conservatory. How these two managed to cross paths, then, is anyone's guess, said Constantine, who also said the team only observed the odd pair for about 10 minutes. At speeds like that, however, that brave octopus may have been in for one heck of a ride. 'One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea," Constantine wrote. "By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening."
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-03-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Octopus Riding a Shark Caught on Camera
A rare sighting, captured on video off the coast of New Zealand and shared by scientists affiliated with the University of Auckland, shows a Maori octopus riding on top of a mako shark, Fox News reported. The university said the December 2023 encounter "was one of the strangest things University of Auckland marine scientists had ever seen. It was a mysterious sight indeed... octopus are mostly on the seabed while short-fin mako sharks don't [favor] the deep." The university researchers had been looking for shark feeding frenzies in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island when a mako shark with an "orange patch" on its head was discovered, the report said. The researchers launched a drone and put a GoPro camera in the water and "saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched atop the shark's head, clinging on with its tentacles," University of Auckland Professor Rochelle Constantine wrote in a piece for the university last week. Constantine added that the researchers moved on after 10 minutes, so they weren't sure what happened to the "sharktopus" next, but the "octopus may have been in for quite the experience, since the world's fastest shark species can reach [30 mph]."
