It’s not every day that researchers spot an orange blob clinging to the head of one of the ocean’s fastest sharks. But that’s exactly what happened in December 2023 in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, and the rare footage of a Māori octopus hitching a ride on a shortfin mako has since sparked global curiosity.

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Footage recorded: December 2023 · Shark: Shortfin mako · Octopus: Māori octopus · Location: Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Drone footage captured an octopus on a shortfin mako shark in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island (Oceanographic Magazine)
  • The octopus species is the Māori octopus (The New York Times)
  • The shark is a shortfin mako, one of the fastest sharks in the ocean (CNN)
  • The encounter lasted approximately 10 minutes (ExplorersWeb)
2What’s unclear
  • How the octopus encountered the mako near the surface (CNN)
  • Whether the octopus was hitchhiking, defending itself, or simply resting (DivePhotoGuide)
  • Why the octopus chose the head position rather than the body (ExplorersWeb)
3Timeline signal
  • December 2023: Footage recorded during a marine field expedition (The New York Times)
  • March 2025: Footage first publicly reported by major outlets (CNN)
  • April 2025: Widespread media coverage, including TV and social media (DivePhotoGuide)
4What’s next
  • Researchers plan to study whether such interactions are more common than previously thought (DivePhotoGuide)
  • Conservation biologists may reassess the ecological ties between benthic octopuses and pelagic sharks (The New York Times)
The upshot

This encounter challenges the default assumption that a mako and an octopus have no reason to interact. If the octopus was indeed hitching a ride, it suggests a level of behavioral flexibility that marine scientists rarely see between such distantly related species.

What happened? A drone and a surprise

Researchers from the University of Auckland were on a field expedition studying marine life and avian species when they spotted an unusual orange shape atop a fast-moving shark. The vessel followed the shark for around 10 minutes while recording the encounter (ExplorersWeb (expedition news site)).

The initial sighting

  • The team first thought the orange mass might be fishing gear (ExplorersWeb)
  • A drone was launched to get a closer view (The New York Times)
  • The object turned out to be a Māori octopus perched on the shark’s head (Oceanographic Magazine (marine science publication))

Marine ecologist Rochelle Constantine, who was part of the research team, described the scene as “a very calm scene” (DivePhotoGuide (underwater photography publication)). The implication: despite the apparent strangeness, neither animal seemed distressed.

The chase and the footage

Nine details from the encounter reveal a consistent pattern: the octopus stayed firmly on the shark’s head while the mako swam normally.

Detail Value Source
Shark species Shortfin mako Oceanographic Magazine
Octopus species Māori octopus The New York Times
Shark length Approximately 10 feet The New York Times
Octopus maximum length Up to 6.5 feet The New York Times
Octopus maximum weight Up to 26 pounds The New York Times
Location Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, New Zealand Oceanographic Magazine
Date recorded December 2023 CNN (global news network)
Date first publicized March 2025 CNN
Nickname “Sharktopus” The New York Times
Duration of encounter Approximately 10 minutes ExplorersWeb
Bottom line: The pattern: the octopus exhibited a stable riding posture at a point where the shark’s wake and body shape might offer the least drag. Scientists who reviewed the footage noted that the octopus appeared to anchor itself using its arms, not just suction (DivePhotoGuide).

Who was involved? The mako and the octopus

Two very different animals met that day — and their biology helps explain why the sighting is so remarkable.

Shortfin mako: the ocean’s speedster

  • Considered one of the fastest sharks, capable of bursts up to 45 mph (Oceanographic Magazine)
  • Typically found in open ocean, not close to shore (CNN)
  • Listed as Endangered by the IUCN (The New York Times)

Māori octopus: a large benthic cephalopod

  • Endemic to New Zealand waters, lives on the seafloor (The New York Times)
  • Can reach 6.5 feet and 26 pounds — large enough to be visible on a shark’s head (The New York Times)
  • Normally nocturnal and solitary; never before observed on a moving shark (Oceanographic Magazine)

“The shark seemed quite happy, and the octopus seemed quite happy.” — Rochelle Constantine, marine ecologist (DivePhotoGuide)

“We initially thought it might be fishing gear.” — research team member (ExplorersWeb)

What this means: the two species occupy entirely different ecological niches — a bottom-dwelling octopus and a pelagic apex predator. Their brief encounter suggests that the octopus may have been picked up while the shark was near the surface, possibly in shallower water than mako sharks usually patrol.

Why is this so unusual?

No scientific paper has ever documented a cephalopod riding a shark in the wild. The novelty factor alone made the footage go viral, but the real significance lies in what it reveals about animal behavior.

A first-of-its-kind interaction

  • Previous observations of octopus transport behavior include clinging to drifting debris or sea turtles (Oceanographic Magazine)
  • But no recorded interaction between a benthic octopus and a high-speed pelagic shark (The New York Times)
  • The encounter was described by scientists as “previously unrecorded behavior” (ExplorersWeb)

What experts are saying

Marine ecologists have offered competing theories. Some believe the octopus was hitching a ride to cover ground faster; others suggest the shark may have been unaware of its passenger. A third possibility: the octopus was trying to avoid a predator and found a temporary refuge.

The catch: without additional data on mako behavior near the surface or octopus movement patterns, each theory remains plausible. As Constantine noted, the scene was calm — not a sign of distress or aggression (DivePhotoGuide).

Why this matters

If octopuses can use sharks as transport, it rewrites what we know about cephalopod mobility. A benthic animal that normally inches across the seafloor could cover kilometers in minutes — a possibility that would change how scientists model their ecological role.

What’s the verdict? Hitchhiking, defense, or coincidence?

The footage alone can’t settle the debate, but the clues point in several directions.

The leading theories

  • Hitchhiking (energy efficiency): The octopus may have used the shark to travel without expending its own energy. Mako sharks are fast, and riding on the head minimizes drag (The New York Times)
  • Predator avoidance: The octopus could have been escaping a threat (like a larger predator) and clung to the shark as an immediate refuge (CNN)
  • Coincidental contact: The octopus may have been floating near the surface (perhaps disoriented or sick) and the shark simply swam underneath, with the octopus reflexively gripping the first solid object (Oceanographic Magazine)

Unanswered questions

Four gaps make a definitive conclusion impossible right now:

Question Why it’s hard to answer
How did the octopus get to the surface? Māori octopuses are benthic; no known mechanism for rapid ascent (The New York Times)
How long was the octopus on the shark? Only 10 minutes were recorded; it may have been longer (ExplorersWeb)
Was the octopus alive afterward? No follow-up data; the octopus was last seen on the shark (CNN)
Could the shark have been eating the octopus? No feeding behavior observed; octopus appeared intact and calm (DivePhotoGuide)

The trade-off: without tagging or longer observation, we may never know the full story. But the rarity of the footage suggests such events are either extremely uncommon or historically overlooked.

What happens next?

The scientific community is already moving on the implications.

Future research directions

  • Reviewing existing underwater drone footage for similar interactions (DivePhotoGuide)
  • Developing predictive models of octopus dispersal that include hitching behavior (The New York Times)
  • Encouraging citizen scientists to report unusual marine hitchhiking events (Oceanographic Magazine)

For marine biologists, the footage is a clear signal: they need to re-examine how often these interactions occur — or risk missing a fundamental part of the ocean’s story.

Additional sources

reddit.com, octonation.com, facebook.com, reddit.com, dailymotion.com, youtube.com, oceanographicmagazine.com, tiktok.com

Related coverage: similar predatory shark fördjupar bilden av Great White Shark: Facts, Size, Attacks & Predators.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the “sharktopus” footage?

It’s a video recorded in December 2023 near Kawau Island, New Zealand, showing a Māori octopus riding on the head of a shortfin mako shark. The footage was first publicly shared in March 2025.

When was the footage recorded?

December 2023, during a field expedition in the Hauraki Gulf.

Where did the encounter happen?

In the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, New Zealand.

What species were involved?

Shortfin mako shark and Māori octopus. The shark is one of the fastest in the ocean; the octopus is a large benthic species endemic to New Zealand.

Is this behavior common?

No. This is the first recorded observation of a cephalopod riding a pelagic shark. Scientists consider it extremely unusual.

Why did it take over a year to report the footage?

The research team took time to analyze the encounter and verify the species identification before releasing the footage to the media.

What does “sharktopus” mean?

It’s a media nickname combining “shark” and “octopus,” popularized by outlets covering the footage.

Will there be more research on this?

Yes. Marine ecologists are reviewing other drone footage and hope to study whether octopus-hitchhiking is more widespread than previously thought.

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