Researchers find evidence for possibly the largest invertebrates — colossal octopuses

Researchers find evidence for possibly the largest invertebrates — colossal octopuses

From Weekend Edition Saturday by NPR

April 25, 2026 · 4 min

About this episode

Researchers have discovered evidence of a massive octopus that lived during the Cretaceous period.

Fossil research shows that an enormous "kraken-like" octopus stalked the seas during the Cretaceous period, competing with large apex predators.

People in this episode

Host: Weekend Edition Saturday

Topics covered

  • fossil research
  • marine biology
  • invertebrates
  • Cretaceous period
  • predators
  • octopuses

Keywords

  • colossal octopuses
  • fossil research
  • Cretaceous period
  • marine predators
  • invertebrates

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