Monstrous octopuses, comparable in size to present-day whales, roamed the oceans during the era of dinosaurs, seizing prey with their massive tentacles and crushing them with formidable jaws, as indicated by fossils unearthed in British Columbia and Japan. A recent study published in the journal Science Thursday reveals that these creatures, reminiscent of mythical sea monsters like the Kraken, reached lengths of up to 19 meters, akin to a sei whale, the world’s third-largest whale.
One of the two species identified, Nanaimotethis haggarti, potentially ranked among the largest invertebrates in Earth’s history, according to Yasuhiro Iba, a professor at the University of Hokkaido and the study’s senior author. These ancient octopuses demonstrated the ability to consume well-armored prey based on the wear patterns observed on their fossilized beaks.
While modern colossal squid holds the title for the largest recorded size at about 12 meters, Nanaimotethis was described as “terrifyingly large” by Cameron Tsujita, a paleontology professor at Western University in London, Ontario. The study suggests that these giant octopuses played a role as top predators alongside other formidable marine creatures of the time, challenging the existing notion of the dominant marine reptiles during that era.
The fossils, primarily beaks or jaws, were discovered in rock formations in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Hokkaido, Japan. These remnants, named after the Nanaimo Group deposit, were found by amateur paleontologists around 20 years ago. Soft-bodied octopuses rarely fossilize, but their beaks composed of chitin—an element found in lobster and beetle shells—can occasionally undergo fossilization processes.
To obtain detailed specimens, researchers employed a technique known as “digital fossil mining,” involving the careful layer-by-layer extraction and imaging of rocks to reconstruct 3D models using artificial intelligence. Through comparisons with modern squids and octopuses, the study confirmed that Nanaimotethis species belonged to the finned octopus category rather than vampire squids, residing mostly in the deep ocean.
Living between 100 million and 72 million years ago, these ancient octopuses represent the oldest known specimens, predating other octopus fossils by at least five million years. The unique characteristics of Nanaimotethis prompt questions about the evolutionary history of octopuses, offering valuable insights into their past adaptations and transformations.
