Rare ‘Sharktopus’ – an octopus riding a shark – sighting caught on camera shared by scientists

Rare ‘Sharktopus’ – an octopus riding a shark – sighting caught on camera shared by scientists

The shark and octopus seemed 'quite happy' by the encounter, one of the researchers said

A rare sighting captured off the coast of New Zealand and shared by scientists affiliated with the University of Auckland shows a Maori octopus riding on top of a mako shark, which is the fastest in the world with the ability to swim up to 46 mph. (University of Auckland)

The researchers launched a drone and put a GoPro camera in the water and "saw something unforgettable: an octopus perched atop the shark’s head, clinging on with its tentacles," University of Auckland Professor Rochelle Constantine wrote in a piece for the university last week. (University of Auckland)

Researchers said the octopus was in for "quite the experience" with the world's fastest shark. (University of Auckland)