“The shark seemed quite happy, and the octopus seemed quite happy,” Constantine told The New York Times. “It was a very calm scene.” But no one knows how it began—or ended.

Octopus hitches ride on shark’s back in remarkable footage that is ‘a reminder of the wonders of the ocean’: ‘Sharktopus’ By . Brooke Kato. Published March 22, 2025, 3:37 p.m. ET.

If the octopus slid off, the shark could have eaten it. Equally, in waters this shallow — just 100 to 130 feet deep — there’s a chance the octopus could have landed safely on the seabed.

It’s pointed out that this could have turned into a wild ride for the octopus, since mako sharks are the fastest sharks in the ocean, capable of swimming in bursts of 40-plus mph.

An octopus hitched a ride on the back of a mako shark in extraordinary nature footage released by the University of Auckland. Researchers at the institution dubbed the underwater friendship ...

Researchers spotted an orange blob near a shark's head. It turned out to be an octopus along for a ride. Wednesday Davis / University of Auckland In December 2023, marine ecologist Rochelle ...

Scientists discover 'sharktopus' — an octopus riding a shark. Researchers with the University of Auckland captured the rare sighting in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island in New Zealand.

More than a fanciful shark-octopus hybrid featured in low-budget sci-fi films of the 2010s, the "sharktopus" has been spotted in real life - well, kind of.

The octopus in question was seen riding around on the back of a mako shark in Hauraki Gulf, off th coast of Auckland, New Zealand, when it was spotted my University of Auckland marine scientist ...

An octopus taking a ride on a shark’s back in New Zealand surprised a research team from the University of Auckland. Christina Cardona. More Videos. Cinnamon the bear makes poolside return.