Ancient Octopus Jaws Reveal Bone-Crunching Apex Predators the Size of a Semitruck

A study published April 23 in Science analyzed fossilized octopus beaks from Japan and Canada, dating to the late Cretaceous (72–100 million years ago). Using AI-assisted software, researchers identified 27 specimens, including 12 new finds. The beaks belonged to Cirrata, finned octopuses with ear-like flaps. Analysis of jaw shape, size, and wear patterns indicates they were apex predators that could crush tough prey, with some beaks missing up to 10% of their length. The largest species, Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, may have reached 62 feet, making it the largest invertebrate ever recorded. These octopuses likely preyed on large marine reptiles like plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. Asymmetrical wear marks suggest they favored one side of their jaws, a behavior linked to advanced brain processing in modern animals. The findings challenge the traditional view of an 'age of vertebrates' in ancient seas and push back the oldest known finned octopuses by 15 million years, with octopus origins now dated to about 100 million years ago. The study was led by Yasuhiro Iba (Hokkaido University) and reviewed by Christian Klug (University of Zurich). Thomas Clements (University of Reading) commented on the beak size. This follows a recent study debunking a 300-million-year-old fossil as an octopus relative.