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Colossal Kraken Fossil Rewrites Ocean History
4 Jun
Summary
- Massive octopus fossils suggest giants roamed oceans 72 million years ago.
- Fossilized jaws indicate some invertebrates topped Cretaceous food webs.
- One species, N. Haggarti, may have reached lengths of 62 feet.
Fossilized jawbones discovered in Japan and Canada point to the existence of Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, a colossal octopus-like creature that inhabited the seas around 72 million years ago. These findings, published in the journal Science, significantly alter our understanding of the Cretaceous Period's marine ecosystems.
Scientists previously believed large vertebrate predators like plesiosaurs and mosasaurs dominated the oceans. However, the immense size of these fossilized jaws, belonging to species such as N. Jeletzkyi (10-26 feet) and the newly identified N. Haggarti (23-62 feet), suggests that giant invertebrates also occupied the apex of the food web.
The discovery of N. Haggarti, potentially the largest invertebrate ever, indicates that prehistoric marine environments were far more complex and diverse. These findings challenge the long-held view that Cretaceous oceans were solely ruled by large fish and reptiles, highlighting a greater variety of formidable predators.
