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Sunday, 26 April 2026

Did kraken-like octopuses rule Cretaceous seas? Massive jaw fossils offer clues

In the age of dinosaurs, giant octopuses — sometimes named krakens after the mythological monsters — might have grown to nearly 19 metres in length. The estimate is based on fossilised jaws, which researchers say show patterns of wear that came from devouring animals that had hard shells and skeletons. The team suggest that these giant cephalopods might have sat at the top of the marine food chain in the Cretaceous period alongside huge marine reptiles such as mosasaurs. But other researchers say that estimates about the size of the soft-bodied creatures, and how they hunted, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Posted by Dr CLÉiRIGh at 00:00
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Labels: Palæontology
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