Octopus 'krakens' as large as semi-trucks stalked ancient seas: Giant cephalopods may have rivaled marine reptiles as apex predators during the age of the dinosaurs.

The article focuses on new research revealing that giant octopuses, some potentially reaching lengths of up to 19 meters, inhabited Earth's oceans during the Cretaceous period alongside dinosaurs. Using a technique called "digital fossil mining," paleontologists analyzed fossilized octopus jaws from northern Japan, identifying two extinct species, Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi and N. haggarti, with jaw sizes surpassing those of modern giant squids. Wear patterns on the fossils suggest these octopuses were intelligent, apex predators that fed on hard-shelled prey, challenging previous views that marine reptiles and sharks dominated the era’s oceanic food chains. The findings highlight the significant role of large cephalopods in Cretaceous marine ecosystems before their extinction about 66 million years ago. [Extracted from the article]