Scientists identify Nanaimoteuthis haggarti as a 62-foot apex predator
Updated
Updated · All That's Interesting · May 5
Scientists identify Nanaimoteuthis haggarti as a 62-foot apex predator
14 articles · Updated · All That's Interesting · May 5
A Science study by Japanese and German researchers says the octopus lived 86-72 million years ago near present-day Japan and western Canada.
Using 15 fossil beaks and AI-detected jaws, the team estimated lengths of 23-62 feet and found chipped adult jaws consistent with crushing hard prey, possibly including sharks.
The findings build on earlier evidence that giant octopuses dominated Late Cretaceous seas, though some scientists caution that size and behaviour are difficult to infer from beaks alone.
If 20-meter octopuses roamed ancient seas, were marine reptiles truly the ocean's undisputed apex predators?
As AI uncovers 'hidden' fossils, what other prehistoric giants are waiting to be rediscovered in museum collections?
Does evidence of octopus intelligence 100 million years ago rewrite the evolutionary timeline for complex brains?
Discovery of 19-Meter Giant Octopus Challenges Vertebrate Dominance in Late Cretaceous Seas
Overview
A landmark 2026 study revealed that giant octopuses, named Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, lived in the Late Cretaceous seas, reaching lengths up to 19 meters. Using advanced AI and 3D imaging to analyze fossilized jaws, researchers found evidence of powerful crushing bites and behavioral lateralization, indicating high intelligence. These octopuses, along with a smaller relative, challenged the long-held belief that large marine reptiles solely dominated apex predator roles. Their evolutionary loss of shells enhanced mobility and brain development, enabling gigantism and complex hunting. This discovery reshapes our understanding of ancient marine ecosystems, showing that intelligent invertebrates competed directly with massive reptiles, altering food webs and prompting new research into their extinction and ecology.