Octopus Spotted Riding a Shark Like It's NBD in Waters Off Coast of New Zealand

The intelligence of an octopus is a fascinating thing, not least because it is an extremely intelligent animal whose cognition works very differently from mammals like us. An octopus has “mini-brains” in each of its arms that allow these appendages to work independently, but also has a large, central brain which can provide directions to its limbs. Research has shown that an octopus can perform complex cognition tests such as navigating mazes and using tools. Captive octopuses are known for escaping their enclosures and recognizing their keepers, engaging in games, playful and even “bullying” behavior with people they know, and other behaviors that are very different than most invertebrates.
Here, a wily octopus is doing something very clever indeed: hitching a ride on a shark.