draw a blank your sk8er bois and surfer , there is officially a new cool way of life to get around and it ’s riding on the back of a shark , as demonstrated by an octopus in Hauraki Gulf near Kawau Island . Stunning footage of what ’s being described as a “ orphic sight indeed ” was shared by the University Of Auckland ( UoA ) , show up the seabed - dwelling devilfish equitation on the back of a shortfin mako shark , shark that do n’t favour the deep .
The sighting occurred back in December 2023 as the University of Auckland ’s research team was on the lookout for feeding frenzies . They blemish the tell - tale five of a shortfin mako shark , but then spotted something strange on its back : an orange blob .
A lagger took to the aviation to investigate and when it get closer break that the unexpected hat was , in fact , an devilfish . According to Prof Rochelle Constantine , who was present for the centre - opening observation , the squad hung around to watch for 10 minute before head off , adding that “ The octopus may have been in for quite the experience since the world ’s fastest shark coinage can reach 50kph . ”
What makes the sighting quite such – and we ’re quotingUoAhere – “ a inscrutable sight indeed ” is the fact that these two animals typically occupy very different parts of the water column . Octopuses will experience their fashion along the seabed , search and seeking shelter , and rarely head for the hills the risk of flouncing out into open water where they ’re at much not bad risk of predation .
Shortfin mako shark sharks , on the other script , are pelagic animals mean they stick to the open sea . As Constantine cite , they can move moderately fast too , and while cephalopod mollusk are a adult part of their diet , it ’s tricksy to imagine how a potential predation result wind up with you break your meal as a hat .
That said , it ’s not the first metre a top predator has tried something a bit daring when it fall to accessories . In 2024 , it was announced that – after a 37 - class time out – wearing a salmon on your headwas back in fashion for orcas .
The furore firstkicked off in 1987 in the Puget Sound area of the northeast Pacific . One female complain it off and soon multiple orcas from several pods were style out the utter fish fascinator .
So , perhaps this is a story to be viewed from two different lenses : is this a thrill - search octopus with a need for stop number ? Or a fashion - forward shortfin mako shark that made you look ?
I think that ’s earned an , ahem , hat off to you both .
