Scientists discovered fossils of an intact temperate rainforest near the South Pole dating back 90 million years to the Cretaceous period. The findings, including a 3-meter root network preserved in mudstone, suggest Antarctica was ice-free and supported dense vegetation with an average annual temperature of 12°C due to higher atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers identify Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a 90ft long, 30-ton sauropod from Thailand's late Early Cretaceous period, shedding light on evolutionary trends towards larger sauropods.
Researchers using a new Digital Fossil Mining technique have discovered fossilized jaws from giant Cretaceous octopods that reached up to 19 meters in length, challenging the long-held view that vertebrates alone dominated the Mesozoic marine food chain. The species Nanaimoteuthis haggarti had powerful beaks showing wear patterns from crushing hard prey, and lateralized behavior suggesting high intelligence comparable to modern octopuses.
Researchers have identified fossils of a giant prehistoric octopus, Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, that lived during the Cretaceous period 86-72 million years ago. The species reached 7-19m in length, making it one of the largest invertebrates ever recorded. Found in Japan and Vancouver Island, the fossils show wear on the creature's beak indicating it hunted large prey, supporting comparisons to the mythical kraken.
Palaeontologists have identified a massive octopus species, Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, which lived during the Cretaceous period. Reaching up to 19m in length, the apex predator likely competed with sharks and marine reptiles before going extinct 66 million years ago.
