
Giant Ancient Octopuses May Have Been Top Ocean Predators 100 Million Years Ago
Researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan have analyzed exceptionally preserved fossil jaws from 100 million-year-old octopuses, estimating body lengths of 1.5-4.5 metres and total lengths including arms of 7-19 metres. The findings challenge the long-held belief that ancient ocean predators were exclusively vertebrates, suggesting giant cephalopods were powerful predators capable of consuming hard-shelled prey.