Cretaceous period
Coverage of Cretaceous period in the Nexus archive.
- Giant octopuses may have ruled the oceans 100 million years ago
New research suggests giant octopuses dominated ancient oceans 100 million years ago, acting as apex predators with powerful jaws. Fossilized remains indicate these creatures could reach 20 meters in length, challenging previous assumptions about their timid, soft-bodied nature.
- Meet the 19-meter Cretaceous kraken that swam with mosasaurs
A new study challenges the long-held belief that Cretaceous oceans were dominated solely by vertebrate predators like mosasaurs and sharks. Researchers discovered fossilized remains of giant, finned octopuses up to 19 meters long, suggesting they were apex predators with hardened beaks and high intelligence, altering the understanding of marine ecosystems 80 million years ago.
- Did kraken-like octopuses rule Cretaceous seas? Massive jaw fossils offer clues
Extinct cephalopods from the Cretaceous period may have reached lengths of up to 19 meters and occupied top predator roles in ancient oceans. A study published in Nature on April 23, 2026, highlights massive jaw fossils as key evidence for these findings.