Fossils from Japan reveal squids evolved and dominated in dinosaur age seas

Hundreds of Fossils Reveal Squids’ Evolutionary Origins and Early Dominance - WhoWhatWhy

Hundreds of Fossils Reveal Squids’ Evolutionary Origins and Early Dominance (Maria)  The author writes, “Sometimes, being squishy is the key to success. Modern cephalopods — which include squids, octopuses and cuttlefish — are known for their soft, pliable bodies, a trait that makes them faster and more agile in the water than their shelled ancestors. But because soft tissues rarely fossilize, the evolutionary origins of these iconic animals rem…

Fossils from Japan reveal squids evolved and dominated in dinosaur age seas

A new, advanced technique for studying fossils has revealed that squids evolved more than 50 million years earlier than previously thought and dominated Earth’s ancient seas. Cephalopods – the group which includes squids and octopuses – first emerged about 500 million years ago (mya). Very little is known about the evolution of cephalopods over their half-a-billion-year history because soft-bodied animals rarely fossilise. Today, squids are the …