During a field expedition in December 2023, marine ecologists spotted a Maori octopus riding a mako shark in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. Concerned at first, they later observed the octopus was not entangled but simply hitching a ride. The octopus, which can grow up to 6.5 feet in length and weigh around 26 pounds, was remarkably occupying space on the shark's head. Researchers called this encounter 'sharktopus' and considered it one of the most bizarre marine interactions they had encountered, illustrating the unique behaviors of marine life.
Dr. Constantine expressed her initial concern upon seeing a curious mass on the shark's head, questioning if it was a buoy or fishing gear.
The team referred to the encounter of the shark with the octopus as one of the strangest sightings, dubbing it 'sharktopus'.
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