US EditionEnormous Kraken-Like Creature May Have Dominated Prehistoric Oceans
Researchers said wear on 27 fossil beaks suggests the octopuses crushed hard prey and may have rivaled mosasaurs as apex predators.
- On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Hokkaido University paleontologists Shin Ikegami and Yasuhiro Iba published a study identifying two giant Cretaceous octopus species, Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi and Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, using AI-assisted 'digital fossil mining' to analyze fossilized jaws.
- For roughly 370 million years, marine ecosystems were thought to be dominated by vertebrate predators like sharks and marine reptiles, but this study suggests giant invertebrates also functioned as apex predators in Cretaceous seas.
- Intense wear on the beaks, with up to 10% of jaw length lost, indicates these animals crushed hard structures like shells and bones, while asymmetric jaw wear suggests lateralized behavior linked to advanced intelligence.
- Researchers estimate N. haggarti reached up to 19 meters long, potentially the largest invertebrate in Earth's history, a 'Cretaceous Kraken' that may have rivaled large marine reptiles in size and ecological status.
- Paleontologist Christian Klug describes the 19-meter size estimates as 'quite extreme,' cautioning that without direct evidence like stomach contents, the ancient octopuses' specific ecological role remains uncertain.
93 Articles
93 Articles
A real-life Kraken stalked the seas of the late Cretaceous
A hundred million years ago during the late Cretaceous period, the oceans were filled with giant predators, prowling for their next meal. There was the mosasaur — a giant toothy marine reptile (and a surprise hero in Jurassic World). There were large sharks.And now, in the journal Science, researchers present evidence for ancient colossal octopuses — what they believe are the largest invertebrates ever described. Using innovative fossil reconstr…
In the Jurassic World film, a Mosasaurus drags even the most dangerous land dino into the water. However, during their lifetime, these sea giants probably also had to watch out for another robber.
The researchers compare the animal to the mythological Kraken: it was as big as a city bus and more aggressive than current counterparts.
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