New Study Suggests Octopus as Top Predator in Cretaceous Seas
A recent study published in Science suggests that colossal octopuses may have been the top predators in the Cretaceous seas, challenging the long-held belief that vertebrates like mosasaurs and great sharks dominated the oceans. The research, led by Shin Ikegami of Hokkaido University, indicates that some octopuses reached lengths of up to 19 meters, allowing them to compete with and possibly prey upon other large marine predators. This finding is based on the analysis of fossilized octopus jaws, which show wear patterns consistent with shell-crushing behavior, suggesting a diet that included hard-shelled invertebrates and possibly vertebrates. 
