Yes, that is a picture of an octopus hitching a ride atop of one of the fastest fish on the planet. It’s a still taken from footage, captured by researchers off the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, that has intrigued ocean-lovers around the world since its emergence earlier this week.

No one is entirely certain where the octopus was headed; but given that its mode of transport was the mako shark – famously the speediest shark in the ocean – we call rest assured it was about to get there in record time.

As is usually the way with science and research, this footage was actually captured back in December 2023 when a research team from the University of Auckland was at sea and on the lookout for ‘workups’ – otherwise known as feeding frenzies.

The last thing anyone was anticipating when they stepped aboard the university’s ocean bound vessel was the discovery and world’s first documentation of the ‘sharktopus’. 

The first inclination that something rather unique was taking place here was when the metallic grey dorsal fin of a large, short-fin mako emerged from the water… with an orange patch upon its head. Initial reaction among the team was to question whether this ‘blob’ was an entanglement or perhaps an injury. One quick launch of the aerial drone later and the full picture was demystified… leaving only more questions.

“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,” recalls Rochelle Constantine, a professor in the school of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland.

Adding to the mystery of this unusual pairing is the logistics behind it all. Constantine notes that octopus are typically found on the seabed, a region to which short-fin mako sharks rarely pay a visit, favouring instead shallower regions of the ocean. 

“We moved on after ten minutes so I can’t tell you what happened next,” says Constantine. “The octopus may have been in for quite the experience, though since the world’s fastest shark species can reach 50km per hour.”

Not that the pace at which an octopus can move is anything to be sniffed at. Some species will commonly max out at around 40km per hour (25 miles per hour), which still outpaces most ocean life – though they are unable to sustain that speed over the distances short-fin mako sharks can cover.

A fascinating encounter, footage of the ever-intriguing dynamics between life in the ocean is crucial in encouraging a deeper interest in the protection of conservation of species and the marine ecosystems they inhabit. 

It’s no secret that shark populations are in steep decline around the world, vulnerable to population collapse from overfishing – made more so by the nature at which they live life. Sharks are long-lived, mature slowly, and have a low reproductive rate. Yet, healthy and thriving shark populations are integral to marine ecosystems.

“Every part of the Hauraki Gulf is important to these amazing animals – estuaries and nearshore waters are critical pupping habitats as pups find safety in the mangroves and seagrass beds, while the seabed is a rich source of food and the open waters are home to larger fish which pelagic sharks like to eat,” said Constantine.

“We need to protect and revive habitats degraded over past decades, limit pollution including sediment runoff entering the ocean, and minimise the chances of sharks ending up as recreational and commercial fishing bycatch.

“The ‘sharktopus’ encounter is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean. 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.”

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