Octopus Langka Rides The Fastest Shark In The World, Scientists Surprised!

An octopus Maori rides a mako shark. (Doc. University of Auckland)

JAKARTA - A rare and astonishing sight has shocked the world of science. Imagine, a Maori octopus can ride a Mako shark, the fastest predator in the ocean!

Foxnews reported, quoted on Saturday, March 22, that this extraordinary incident was recorded in a video off the coast of New Zealand and shared by scientists from Auckland University.

The incident actually occurred in December 2023, and is only being published now. Described by the university as the strangest phenomenon the Auckland University marine scientist has ever seen. Octopus, a creature usually found on the seabed, is seen adhering tightly to the mako shark's head, a predator capable of swimming at speeds of up to 46 mph (about 74 km/hour).

Researchers were looking for a " Shark dining party" in Hauraki Bay near Kawau Island when they found a MACo shark with an "orange patch" on its head. They launched drones and installed a GoPro camera in the water, and an unforgettable sight was revealed.

"We saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched on top of the shark's head, holding on to it," wrote Professor Rochelle totaling from Auckland University in an article.

The researchers observed this unique sight for 10 minutes before continuing their research, so the fate of this "sharktopus" is unknown. However,itiona added that the octopus may be experiencing "a rather exciting journey, given the speed of the mako shark.

"Initially, I thought, 'Is it a buoy?'"ani told The New York Times. "'Is it entangled in a fishing rod or large bite marks?'"

He stressed that the octopus covered most of the shark's head, but the two animals did not appear to be disturbed by the meeting.

"The smell looked quite happy, and the octopus looked quite happy. It was a very quiet sight," he said.

This discovery has sparked curiosity and admiration among scientists and the general public. How the octopus can stick to the mako shark, and what is the purpose of this "travel", is still a mystery. However, one thing is for sure: nature always has a great surprise.