In December 2023, scientists off the northern coast of New Zealand spotted something that made them do a double take. The mako shark swimming near the surface wasn’t unusual ? but the strange orange blob on its head was atypical. At first, they assumed it was fishing gear, a buoy, or perhaps even an injury. But as they got a closer look using a drone and an underwater camera, they discovered the truth: it was an octopus. Yes, a real-life octopus casually hanging out on a shark’s head.
The bold rider turned out to be a M?ori octopus ? the largest species in the Southern Hemisphere. What made the sighting even more surprising was that this species typically lives on the ocean floor, somewhere shortfin mako sharks rarely visit. How these two animals ended up together remains a mystery. Amused and intrigued by the octopus’s unusual behavior, the researchers nicknamed it the world’s first “sharktopus.”
Even stranger was how calm both animals appeared. The octopus wasn’t hanging on for dear life, and the shark didn’t seem the least bit bothered. Scientists believe the octopus likely got quite the thrill during its ride ? after all, the shortfin mako is the world’s fastest shark, capable of reaching speeds up to 50 kph.
What happened next is unknown. Maybe the shark shook the octopus off, maybe the octopus slipped away, or perhaps it became the shark’s next meal. But for a brief moment, two very different sea creatures shared a peaceful ? and completely unexpected ? ride. It’s the kind of encounter you don’t expect to witness on an ordinary day at sea.
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1. Where did scientists spot the shark with the strange orange blob?
2. What is special about the M?ori octopus?
3. Why was it unusual to find a M?ori octopus with a shortfin mako shark?
4. How did the shark and the octopus behave during the encounter?
1. How might this encounter change what scientists understand about ocean animals?
2. What does this story teach us about the unpredictability of nature?
3. Do you think the octopus was being playful, strategic, or just lost? Why?
4. If you were one of the scientists, what would you want to study next about this event?
In December 2023, scientists off the northern coast of New Zealand spotted something that made them do a double take. The mako shark swimming near the surface wasn’t unusual ? but the strange orange blob on its head was atypical. At first, they assumed it was fishing gear, a buoy, or perhaps even an injury. But as they got a closer look using a drone and an underwater camera, they discovered the truth: it was an octopus. Yes, a real-life octopus casually hanging out on a shark’s head.
Even stranger was how calm both animals appeared. The octopus wasn’t hanging on for dear life, and the shark didn’t seem the least bit bothered. Scientists believe the octopus likely got quite the thrill during its ride ? after all, the shortfin mako is the world’s fastest shark, capable of reaching speeds up to 50 kph.
