The fastest octopus rides on shark back in the world

The researchers recorded an orange octopus riding above the super fast shark that is short mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) While it is swimming. This strange scene was discovered in Hauraki Bay off the coast of New Zealand in the northern coastal area of ​​New Zealand on a journey of research in December 2023, according to Live Science.

According to Rochelle Constantine, a professor of Hai Duong Biology at the University of Auckland, he and his colleagues at first saw a gray back fined that was a big shark. Curious about the orange object near its head, they launched the drone and placed the gopro camera underwater, finally discovered that the octopus was clinging to the shark tent with tentacles.

The team was very interested in this behavior because octopus often lived on the ocean floor while the short mako shark spent most of the time swimming near the water surface. “We really don’t know how octopus at the sea floor meets 3 m long Mako sharks in the middle of the sea. This is really a mystery,” Constantine said.

The shortest shark mako shark is the fastest shark in the world, reaching a maximum speed of up to 74 km/h. They can be 3.7 m long and weighs 545 kg. They are known for their impressive dance ability, which can be 6 m high above the water. They always hunt near the sea surface but may appear at a depth of 500 m. The diet of Mako sharks mainly includes other fast swimming fish like swords and tuna, as well as squid and some other sharks.

The team observed the octopus – shark couple for 10 minutes before leaving to continue the journey. “The shark does not seem to worry about the octopus. The octopus clings to all its tentacles at the shark’s head, it may be in the position while the shark swim slowly. I suspect octopus can fall out of the position if the shark swim faster,” Constantine said.

Mako shark is an endangered species in the red book of the International Nature Conservation Alliance (IUCN), mainly their fins are of high value for fishing industry. They are also often captured by fishermen and tuna. Slow reproductive speed makes them unable to keep up with fishing pressure, resulting in a decline in the number.