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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Marine scientists filmed an octopus clinging to the head of a shortfin mako shark in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island in December 2023. The University of Auckland described the encounter publicly in March 2025. “Sharktopus” is a playful nickname: the footage shows two separate animals, not a hybrid or new species.
The encounter happened while a University of Auckland team was looking for marine-animal feeding aggregations known in New Zealand as workups. Researchers noticed a shortfin mako’s metallic-gray dorsal fin and an orange patch on its head. Unsure what the patch was, they launched a drone and lowered a GoPro into the water. The cameras revealed an octopus perched on the shark’s head and clinging with its tentacles.
How scientists found the octopus on the shark
The orange shape initially looked as if it could be a buoy or an injury. The drone and underwater camera showed that it was an octopus. The University of Auckland’s account identifies the shark as a shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, but does not give a formal species-level identification for the octopus.
What the researchers observed—and what remains unknown
Professor Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland said the team moved on after 10 minutes. That is how long they watched before leaving, not a verified total duration for the octopus’s attachment.
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The footage documents the octopus clinging to the shark when researchers encountered them. It does not show how the octopus got there, why it was attached, whether the shark was affected, or what happened after the team left. The account does not establish intentional hitchhiking, cooperation, predation, or a benefit to either animal.
Which animals were involved?
| Animal | Identification | What the public account establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Shark | Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus | The research team identified the shark as a shortfin mako. |
| Octopus | Octopus; described as Māori in some coverage | The University of Auckland account does not provide a formal species-level identification. |
The Guardian described the octopus as Māori. Because the public account does not establish a formal identification, it is safest to call it an octopus and, if using “Māori octopus,” attribute that description to coverage rather than present it as a confirmed species identification.
Why the sighting caught attention
In her University of Auckland account, Constantine noted that octopuses are mostly found on the seabed, while shortfin makos do not favor the deep. The unusual sight was an octopus attached to an active shark in open water. This single observation does not establish how common such encounters are or explain why this one happened.
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Was the shark really carrying the octopus at 50 km/h?
There is no measured speed for the shark in the footage. Constantine’s University of Auckland account says shortfin makos can reach 50 km/h; that is a general statement about the species, not a measurement of this individual during the encounter. Calling it a “ride” describes the scene, not a recorded speed or confirmed behavior.
Is a sharktopus a real species?
No. “Sharktopus” is an informal nickname for this striking sighting, not the name of a hybrid, a genetically engineered animal, or a newly recognized species. The footage shows a shark and an octopus as separate animals.
The nickname is also used for a fictional film franchise, which has no connection to the New Zealand research footage.
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What the footage can—and cannot—tell us
The video records an octopus clinging to a shortfin mako’s head when the scientists found them. It does not demonstrate a symbiotic relationship, friendship, deliberate transportation, or an established ecological partnership. The cause of the attachment and what happened afterward remain unknown.
Further observations would be needed to determine whether this behavior recurs and under what circumstances. The available account provides no measured speed for the shark and no quantified frequency for octopus–shark associations.
Where was the encounter filmed?
The researchers encountered the animals in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island, New Zealand, in December 2023, while searching for feeding aggregations. The University of Auckland’s account is the primary source for the filming context and the limits of what the team observed.
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- Leaves of different sizes and heights provide a comfortable environment for your betta or other types of fish. They will like to play, rest and hide on these aquarium plants.
- The leaves are soft and lifelike without scratching the fish. They swing with the water waves in the fish tank, making them look very vivid and beautiful in the water. They can be planted in both of freshwater and seawater. Each plant has its own base for holding it in the gravel.
- The set contains 12 short aquarium plants, 7 medium aquarium plants and 6 tall aquarium plants with a total of 25 different styles. Heights vary from 2 inches to 12 inches. It is suitable for 10 gallon or larger fish tanks.
The careful way to describe the “sharktopus” footage
The most accurate summary is simple: marine scientists filmed an octopus clinging to the head of a shortfin mako shark in the Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island in December 2023. The team watched before moving on after about 10 minutes, but the total attachment duration, its cause, and what happened afterward are unknown.
FAQ
Is a sharktopus a real animal?
No. “Sharktopus” is a nickname for the sighting. The footage shows a shortfin mako shark and an octopus, not a hybrid or newly discovered species.
Why was an octopus on a mako shark?
The researchers did not determine why the octopus was attached or how it got there. The footage does not establish intentional hitchhiking or any benefit to either animal.
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Where was the octopus-on-shark video filmed?
It was filmed near Kawau Island in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf in December 2023, according to the University of Auckland account.
How long did scientists watch the octopus on the shark?
The team moved on after about 10 minutes. That is the observation period before they left; the total time the octopus was attached is unknown.
Was the shark swimming at 50 km/h?
No speed was measured for the filmed shark. The 50 km/h figure in Professor Rochelle Constantine’s University of Auckland account describes the possible speed of shortfin makos generally.
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