Spectacular Marine Duo: Octopus Hitching a Ride on Marauding Mako Shark
Octopus perched atop Makohai's head, navigating the ocean depths
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Move over, extraordinary partnerships! In December 2023, an extraordinary duo was sighted by marine researchers off the coast of New Zealand. They witnessed a spectacle, which may go down in history as the strange yet fascinating symbiotic relationship between a Maori octopus and a shortfin mako shark.
The University of Auckland Marine Biologists published a video on YouTube showcasing the unbelievable sighting, featuring an octopus hanging onto a large shortfin mako shark. While this shark is commonly known as the mako shark, it is also known for its swiftness, typically reaching speeds of up to about 50 kph (31 mph)[1][2][3], with some reports suggesting it can hit even 74 kph (46 mph).
After spotting an orange spot on the shark's head during a research trip to study feeding frenzies using drones in the Hauraki Gulf, the researchers initially doubted their senses. Marine scientist Rochelle Constantine thought the spot could be a buoy or an injury. However, a closer look with a drone revealed the orange spot to be a Maori octopus, hanging onto the shark's head[4].
While the octopus likely found quite a thrilling ride, hitching a free lift with the world's fastest shark, it remained a mystery how long the tiny creature managed to hold on for[4]. As the researchers went about their business after 10 minutes, they couldn't help but wonder about the octopus's own enduring fascination with its shark taxi.
The encounter between these two diverse marine species, one dwelling on the ocean floor and the other roaming open waters, not only bolsters the wonders that await us in the ocean but also raises questions about what we still don't understand about our marine ecosystem.
Sources:- ntv.de- chr
- Marine Life
- New Zealand
- Sharks
Enrichment Data:
Overview:
In December 2023, a once-in-a-lifetime encounter was observed by researchers in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. The event showcased a Maori octopus, the largest octopus in the Southern Hemisphere, perched on the back of a shortfin mako shark, the fastest shark known to man. The unusual duo was spotted during a drone-assisted research trip focused on feeding frenzies.
Key Aspects of the Encounter:
- Location and Timing: The encounter was observed in December 2023 in the Hauraki Gulf, off New Zealand's North Island.
- Species Involved: The encounter involved a Maori octopus, a deep-sea dweller, and a shortfin mako shark, known for inhabiting open ocean waters.
- Nature of Encounter: The Maori octopus was found attached to the head of the mako shark, creating an unusual duo dubbed the "sharktopus." The shark remained unperturbed, and both animals seemed calm during the observation period.
- Speed of Shark: The shortfin mako shark can reach impressive speeds, with potential to offer the octopus a memorable ride. However, if the shark accelerated, the octopus likely would not have been able to maintain its grip.
- Implications and Mysteries: The encounter highlights the unpredictability of marine life interactions, leaving researchers bewildered as to how these two species with disparate habitats came into contact.
Conservation Perspective:
This awe-inspiring sighting illustrates the need for marine conservation efforts to preserve such extraordinary events for future generations. The shortfin mako shark, involved in this encounter, is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with its population under threat from commercial and recreational fishing.
- The findings from the research programme conducted by the University of Auckland Marine Biologists, which recorded the exceptional duo of a Maori octopus and a shortfin mako shark, are crucial for further research and development within the community policy on marine conservation.
- The coordination among marine researchers after noticing the spectacle of the octopus hitching a ride on a mako shark, as included in the research programme, is essential for a comprehensive understanding of uncertain marine ecosystem interactions.
- In discussions on WhatsApp marine groups, researchers have shared the video of the "sharktopus" encounter, raising awareness about the need to develop and coordinate research programmes to investigate similar fascinating phenomena in our oceans.
