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Ancient 'Cretaceous Kraken' Octopus Was Apex Predator, Study Finds
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Health & Science

Ancient 'Cretaceous Kraken' Octopus Was Apex Predator, Study Finds

From Asharq Al-Awsat · (8m ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Scientists discovered fossils indicating an octopus species named Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, which lived 72 to 86 million years ago, could grow up to 61 feet long.
  • This finding suggests giant invertebrates, like these ancient octopuses, also served as apex predators in Cretaceous marine ecosystems, challenging the long-held belief that only vertebrates dominated.
  • The research, based on beak fossils found in Japan and Canada, highlights the significant wear on these structures, implying a diet of large fish and shelled creatures.

A recent study, published in the journal Science, has unearthed fascinating evidence from the Cretaceous Period, suggesting that ancient oceans were patrolled by a creature as formidable as any mythical beast: a colossal octopus.

These animals were remarkable. With their large bodies, long arms, powerful jaws and advanced behavior, they represent what could be described as a real 'Cretaceous Kraken.'

— Yasuhiro IbaPaleontologist Yasuhiro Iba of Hokkaido University described the ancient octopus species.

Researchers, led by paleontologist Yasuhiro Iba of Hokkaido University, analyzed fossilized beaks of an octopus species named Nanaimoteuthis haggarti. These beaks indicate that this ancient cephalopod could have reached lengths of up to 61 feet, a size comparable to modern large invertebrates like the giant squid. This discovery challenges the prevailing scientific understanding that large vertebrate predators, such as sharks and whales, were the sole apex predators in marine ecosystems for millions of years.

For roughly the past 370 million years, marine ecosystems have been thought to be dominated by large vertebrate predators - first fishes and ⁠sharks, then marine ⁠reptiles and later whales. Our study shows that giant invertebrates, namely octopuses, also functioned as apex predators in the Cretaceous sea.

— Yasuhiro IbaYasuhiro Iba explained how the discovery changes the understanding of ancient marine ecosystems.

The study's findings are particularly significant for understanding the ecological dynamics of the past. The intense wear on the fossilized beaks suggests these ancient octopuses were powerful predators, capable of crushing the bones and shells of substantial prey. This provides a new perspective on the biodiversity and predatory hierarchy of the ancient seas, demonstrating that giant invertebrates played a crucial role in the marine food web.

Until now, the largest-known invertebrate has been the modern giant squid, which can reach about 12 meters (39 feet) in total length.

— Yasuhiro IbaYasuhiro Iba compared the size of the ancient octopus to the modern giant squid.

The research, which utilized fossils from Japan and Canada's Vancouver Island, underscores the importance of ongoing paleontological research in reshaping our understanding of prehistoric life. It highlights that even soft-bodied creatures, which rarely fossilize well, can leave behind crucial evidence—like their durable beaks—that can rewrite scientific narratives.

The intense wear observed on the beaks is consistent, the researchers said, with repeated crushing of hard structures such as bones and shells, indicative of a predator that hunted large fish, shelled tentacled creatures, clams and other sizable prey.

— ResearchersThe researchers described the evidence of the ancient octopus's predatory behavior based on beak wear.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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