Fossil evidence suggests giant octopuses up to 19 metres long prowled Earth's oceans roughly 100 million years ago, according to research. The discovery pushes back the timeline for when such massive cephalopods roamed the seas and adds to the fossil record of giant marine creatures that dominated prehistoric waters.
Scientists identified the evidence through fossilized remains that indicated octopuses of extraordinary size inhabited ancient oceans during the Cretaceous period. These creatures would have been formidable predators, dwarfing modern giant octopuses, which typically reach lengths of 3 metres.
The finding contributes to a broader understanding of ancient marine ecosystems and the types of predators that existed long before modern sea life evolved. It remains unclear how these massive octopuses hunted, what they preyed upon, or what environmental conditions allowed such enormous specimens to thrive.