Last weekend’s Super Bowl 49 in Arizona has been described as one of the most thrilling championship games in NFL history. Much attention has been paid to the heroics of rookie cornerback Malcom Butler, who made a daring interception to seal victory for the New England Patriots.

However, a second unlikely hero has emerged to capture the hearts of observers across the country, and he has been dubbed “Left Shark” by admirers and fans.

There were many impressive visual aspects on display during Katy Perry’s extravagant halftime show. The pop singer kicked off festivities by riding a robotic lion while singing her anthemic song Roar. Enjoying the benefit of cutting edge technology known as “perspective mapping,” Perry found herself performing on a virtual chess board with dancing pawns and bishops. While she belted out a rousing rendition of Firework, the stage beneath her literally burst into explosive color like the 4th of July.

The same projection effect transformed her stage to a beachfront complete with palm trees, grinning beach balls, and a pair of uncoordinated sharks. As she began to sing Teenage Dream, the two costumed performers took place behind Perry and started dancing in unison. Observers were quick to notice that while the “Right Shark” displayed crisp, deliberate movements, “Left Shark” seemed less concise and confident with his choreography.

Though “Left Shark” had less than a minute of screen time during the Super Bowl, his offbeat gyrations have achieved certifiable viral fame. “Left Shark” has inspired graphic artists, 3-D printing enthusiasts, confectionary bakers and even clothing designers to immortalize his humorous performance. Some have taken drastic measures to commemorate “Left Shark,” with People Magazine reporting that one man in Colorado had the blue and white background dancer permanently tattooed to his skin. The sudden prominence of “Left Shark” is a perfect example of how online communities can rally around an amusing idea which encourages them to create original web content.

Given that the Super Bowl halftime show has an unfortunate reputation for “wardrobe malfunctions” and other hijinks, organizers are likely pleased with the unthreatening notoriety of “Left Shark.” Although some have ridiculed the rogue shark for his lack of preparation, choreographer RJ Durrell has claimed that the antics during Teenage Dream were entirely planned. Rather than making a blunder that would be mocked by the media, Perry and her team purposefully instructed “Left Shark” to miss his cues while dancing. Durrell commented that “We love the laughter and joy this moment has created for the world and think the left shark nailed it!”