Monstrous octopuses, comparable in size to modern whales, roamed the oceans during the Age of Dinosaurs, capturing prey with their massive tentacles and crushing them with strong jaws, as indicated by fossils discovered in British Columbia and Japan. A recent study published in the journal Science reveals that these creatures, similar to legendary sea monsters like the Kraken, reached lengths of up to 19 meters, akin to a sei whale, the third-largest living whale species.
One of the two species identified, known as Nanaimotethis haggarti, could have been among the largest invertebrates in Earth’s history, according to Yasuhiro Iba, a professor at the University of Hokkaido and the lead author of the research. In comparison, the largest modern squid species peaks at approximately 12 meters in length.
Described as “terrifyingly large” by Cameron Tsujita, a paleontology professor at Western University in London, Ontario, Nanaimotethis octopuses exhibited signs of being able to consume well-protected prey with hard shells, as evidenced by wear marks on their fossilized beaks. It is believed that Nanaimotethis used its sizable body and long arms to capture prey and its robust jaws to crush hard structures such as shells and bones.
In a time dominated by large marine reptiles like mosasaurs and elasmosaurus, the presence of giant octopuses in the top predator hierarchy would have posed additional threats to smaller creatures such as fish, sea turtles, and ammonites. This study emphasizes that giant invertebrates, specifically octopuses, played a significant role as top predators in their ecosystems.
Unique findings from the study include the observation that the octopuses exhibited a preference for grabbing prey on one side, indicating a level of “handedness” associated with intelligence, similar to the high intelligence observed in modern octopuses. The study also sheds light on the fossilization process of octopus beaks or jaws, which are composed of chitin, a hard material that can sometimes be preserved in rocks.
Using a technique called “digital fossil mining,” researchers were able to analyze detailed specimens and confirm that the Nanaimotethis species were finned octopuses, distinct from vampire squids as previously believed. By comparing these ancient octopuses to their modern counterparts, the study provides insights into their size, feeding habits, and evolutionary history.
Living between 100 million and 72 million years ago, these ancient octopuses are the oldest of their kind known to date, predating any other octopus fossils by at least five million years. The discovery of such unique octopus species raises questions about the evolutionary path of these creatures and the factors that led to their modern-day characteristics.