When the topic of deadly ocean predators comes up, the first creature that most people think of is the shark.
Octopuses are predators as well, but let’s be honest, if someone were to suggest that an octopus would hunt down and eat a shark instead of the other way around, you would think that person is crazy.
After all, a shark has razor sharp teeth and the octopus is all soft and squishy. Literally, the octopus doesn’t have a bone in its body. The only hard part on an octopus is the beak located on its mouth. How could an octopus possibly take a down a shark?
This video contains incredible footage of a Giant Pacific Octopus encountering a dogfish shark. Both of these creatures can be found in the northern Pacific Ocean. This means that they come into contact with each other with some degree of frequency.
Round One
In the first scene, there is a Giant Pacific Octopus resting on the ocean floor. It is camouflaged and the nearby dogfish does not see it. Initially, it seems like the octopus camouflaged itself to avoid being attacked by the shark. What happens in the next few seconds, however, indicates that the octopus had something else in mind.
The octopus attempts to capture the dogfish with its arms. There is a violent struggle but the shark manages to keep its head free and eventually muscles its way free of the octopus grasp.
Round Two
In the second scene, there is another Giant Pacific Octopus which has similar plans for another dogfish shark nearby. This octopus also grabs at the shark with its arms and an intense wrestling match ensues. The octopus uses its strong arms which can lift 14 times its own weight to immobilize the shark.
In order for sharks to use their gills to absorb oxygen from the water effectively, they must be in constant motion. What the octopus is doing by immobilizing the shark is essentially suffocating it. As the frame progresses, you see the shark slowly stop moving as it suffocates.
Once the shark has suffocated, the Giant Pacific Octopus can begin the process of eating it.
So, yes, an octopus can eat a shark.
