‘Sharktopus’ Video Shows Octopus Riding Shark—But Why?

Of all the things I never thought I’d see, an octopus riding a shark is definitely on that list. A popular social-media video from the University of Auckland and marine scientists Wednesday Davis and Esther Stuck shows this rare phenomenon, introducing the bizarre concept to thousands of netizens.

Spotted in the Hauraki Gulf on the coast of New Zealand’s North Island, this “sharktopus” even shocked the experts.

“A shark giving an octopus a ride is one of the strangest things that University of Auckland marine scientist Professor Rochelle Constantine has seen,” wrote the university in its Instagram post sharing the video. “This ‘sharktopus’ in the Hauraki Gulf was a mysterious find . . . octopus are mostly on the seabed while short-fin mako sharks don’t favour the deep. The encounter is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean. By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening, says Constantine.”

[RELATED: Octopus Shocks Washington Hikers (Who Think It’s a Jellyfish)]

Warren Carlyle, founder of OctoNation, suggests this behavior is likely defensive.

“What likely happened: The shark lunged for lunch. The octopus latched on—not for funsies clearly, but to avoid becoming a snack,” Carlyle writes. “With its grip locked tight, the shark couldn’t shake it, so it swam on like an unwilling Uber driver.”

Watch rare footage of an octopus riding a shark here:

Of all the things I never thought I’d see, an octopus riding a shark is definitely on that list. A popular social-media video from the University of Auckland and marine scientists Wednesday Davis and Esther Stuck shows this rare phenomenon, introducing the bizarre concept to thousands of netizens.

Spotted in the Hauraki Gulf on the coast of New Zealand’s North Island, this “sharktopus” even shocked the experts.

“A shark giving an octopus a ride is one of the strangest things that University of Auckland marine scientist Professor Rochelle Constantine has seen,” wrote the university in its Instagram post sharing the video. “This ‘sharktopus’ in the Hauraki Gulf was a mysterious find . . . octopus are mostly on the seabed while short-fin mako sharks don’t favour the deep. The encounter is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean. By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening, says Constantine.”

[RELATED: Octopus Shocks Washington Hikers (Who Think It’s a Jellyfish)]

Warren Carlyle, founder of OctoNation, suggests this behavior is likely defensive.

“What likely happened: The shark lunged for lunch. The octopus latched on—not for funsies clearly, but to avoid becoming a snack,” Carlyle writes. “With its grip locked tight, the shark couldn’t shake it, so it swam on like an unwilling Uber driver.”

Watch rare footage of an octopus riding a shark here: