Rosita Cipolla Le curiose immagini di un polpo arancione che fa un giro sulla schiena di uno squalo nelle acque della Nuova Zelanda sono diventate virali: la scena inedita ha lasciato senza parole gli scienziati
@University of Auckland
What is an octopus doing on the back of a shark? The images of this curious scene, captured in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, have been spreading worldwide. The incident occurred in December 2023, when researchers from the University of Auckland captured footage with a drone of a Maori octopus clinging to the back of a shortfin mako shark, almost as if it were trying to “hitch a ride.”
The mako shark is known as the fastest shark, capable of reaching speeds of up to 31 mph. Although it is an aggressive predator, attacks on humans are rare.
Sharktopus: nature never stops amazing us
The scientists were astounded by this unusual interaction, as Maori octopuses typically dwell on the ocean floor, while mako sharks prefer the open waters, not the depths. Initially, they believed it was an orange buoy rather than an octopus or that the shark was injured.
“We have no idea how they ended up together. The shark didn’t seem bothered, and the octopus was calm,” explained marine biologist Rochelle Constantine in an interview with the New York Times. “The octopus might have had a truly remarkable experience, as the fastest shark species in the world can reach speeds of 31 mph. The encounter with the ‘sharktopus’ is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean. One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea.”
Seeing an octopus ride on the back of a large predator is certainly an extraordinary sight. But how can this particular episode be explained? According to experts, it’s likely that the octopus was trying to escape a threat and took advantage of the shark’s “ride” during its escape.
