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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."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Octopus hitches ride on shark's back in remarkable footage that is ‘a reminder of the wonders of the ocean': ‘Sharktopus'
Forget 'sharknado' — this footage shows a new feat of nature. Researchers from the University of Aukland got a chance sighting of an octopus hitching a ride on the back of a shark, which they have dubbed 'sharktopus.' The team was off the Northern coast of New Zealand in the Hauraki Gulf in 2023 when they spotted a shortfin mako shark with an orange blob attached to its back. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a Maori octopus when they spotted its tentacles moving. 'At first, I was like: 'Is it a buoy?'' marine scientist Rochelle Constantine told the New York Times. ''Is it entangled in fishing gear or had a big bite?'' The phenomenon was particularly remarkable because of the nature of both creatures. Octopuses usually are on the ocean floor, where shortfin mako sharks typically do not go. 'It makes no sense that these two animals should be at the same place and time to encounter each other,' Constantine said, adding that both marine animals seemed 'quite happy.' 'We have no idea how they found each other.' While the researchers only stayed to watch the aquatic animals for 10 minutes, Constantine mused that the octopus was in for the ride of its life. 'The octopus may have been in for quite the experience, though, since the world's fastest shark species can reach 50 kilometers per hour,' she told Oceanographic. But, according to the outlet, octopuses can travel at a maximum of 40 kilometers, or 25 miles, per hour. 'The 'sharktopus' encounter is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean,' Constantine continued. 'One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea. By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening.'
