Rare Footage Captures Octopus Riding a Shark in New Zealand Waters

The unusual encounter between a Maori octopus and a shortfin mako shark highlights marine mysteries and the importance of ocean conservation.

University of Auckland researchers filmed a Maori octopus clinging to a shortfin mako shark during a December 2023 expedition in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf.
The interaction, lasting about 10 minutes, was captured using drones and underwater cameras, with the footage publicly released in March 2025.
This rare event is puzzling as octopuses typically dwell on the seabed, while mako sharks inhabit open ocean waters, making such encounters highly unusual.
Scientists speculate the octopus may have been evading predation or opportunistically hitching a ride, though the outcome of the interaction remains unknown.
The sighting has drawn attention to marine conservation efforts and the need to protect endangered species like the shortfin mako shark.