fossil record

Giant Apex Predator Octopuses Discovered in Cretaceous Fossil Record

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.