60-foot octopus ruled the seas during age of dinosaurs, fossils show

During the age of the dinosaurs, about 100 million years ago, massive octopuses may have been among the top predators in the seas. New research analyzing fossilized jaws suggests that these kraken-like creatures, with bodies extending over 60 feet, hunted alongside other marine predators like sharks and mosasaurs. Despite their soft bodies, which don’t preserve well, the octopuses’ beaks made of stiffened chitin were strong enough to crush shelled and bony prey. Researchers studied 15 ancient octopus fossils from Japan and Canada’s Vancouver Island, using a technique called digital fossil mining to uncover more fossils. They estimated that these ancient octopuses ranged from 23 to 62 feet in length, making them some of the largest invertebrates on record. The wear and tear on their jaws indicate they frequently crushed hard prey. This discovery challenges the perception that invertebrates weren’t formidable predators during the Cretaceous period. QUESTION: How might the discovery of these massive ancient octopuses change our understanding of marine ecosystems during the age of the dinosaurs?