Science Snapshots: April 26, 2026

Invertebrate Cretaceous ‘krakens’ were apex predators

The earliest finned octopuses were top predators that rivalled giant marine reptiles. By analysing large fossilised jaws, scientists have found two species — Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi and N. haggarti — that lived 100-72 million years ago and could have been 7-19 m long. Wear on the jaws indicated the octopuses often crushed hard bones while asymmetric wear patterns suggested they were already highly intelligent. The findings overturn the idea that ancient food chains were crowned by vertebrates alone.