Is it a bird? airplane? No, it's a “shark”: a Marines pairing like everyone else – National
Video tapes of octopus riding on the back of sharks have attracted global audiences since the release of researchers at the University of Auckland earlier this week.
The unlikely duo was found by a New Zealand marine expert cohort, with the Maori octopus inhabiting the summer of 2023 at Shortfin Mako Shark in Hauraki Gulf.
Researchers are looking for a craze when they discover that the couple rides waves in tandem and creates a “shark tower” in a tandem manner.
According to a recent blog post by Rochelle Constantine, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Auckland and researchers who also found the anomaly attraction, the team first discovered a large dorsal fin, signaling to the sharks near its team. After careful examination, they noticed “orange patches on the head”.
At first, they thought it was an injury or a shark hit the float. To confirm their suspicion, the team released a drone and placed the GoPro camera in the water. That was when they discovered the couple.
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“An octopus perched on the shark's head, clinging to the tentacles,” Constantine wrote.
“This 'shark' is indeed a mysterious discovery,” she added. “The octopus is mostly located on the seabed, and the Shortfin Mako shark doesn't like the depths.”
She explained that the octopus chose a quick journey because Shortfin Mako is the fastest shark species, which can swim 50 km/h.
Constantine's area of expertise is Hauraki Gulf-Tīkapa Moana, Te Moananuui-ā-toi-she studies shark behavior in the summer.
The bay is inhabited and visited by many types of sharks, including bronze whalers, which are often seen by divers and fishermen in shallow waters, and more commonly with smooth hammerheads.
Large open marine species such as dull sharks, blue sharks and Shortfin Mako, “also known as octopus taxi sharks,” are increasingly found in the region.
Blue Shark. Riley Elliott/University of Auckland
Riley Elliott/Auckland University Photos
Little is known about smaller sharks living near the seabed, such as lemon fish and local carpet sharks, but global shark populations have dropped dramatically due to overfishing, climate change and low reproduction rates.
Constantine said the “shark” encounter is a “reminder to make the wonders of the ocean.”
“One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see in the sea. By supporting conservation programs, we can help ensure that this extraordinary moment continues to happen.”
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
