All articles tagged with #cephalopods
Using synchrotron imaging, researchers reclassified Pohlsepia mazonensis as a nautiloid relative Paleocadmus pohli, overturning the fossil's status as the oldest octopus and pushing crown octopus divergence to the Jurassic, while highlighting the oldest nautiloid soft-tissue preservation in the Mazon Creek deposits.
An editorial argues that cephalopods (octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid) deserve stronger welfare protections in research due to their sentience and complex brains; despite decades of safeguards for vertebrates and EU rules extending protections to cephalopods, analgesics for these animals are scarce, hindering humane care. The piece calls for global adoption of higher welfare standards, continued development of pain-relief options, and consideration of a UN convention on animal health and protection to ensure ethical, high-quality science.
Fossilized beaks from two giant Cretaceous octopuses suggest they grew up to 62 feet long and hunted in oceans about 100 million years ago, potentially rivalling apex predators like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs. Jaws show wear indicating they could dismantle hard-shelled prey, and signs of lateralized behavior imply brainier hunting patterns similar to modern octopuses, marking them as prehistoric top predators, though size estimates carry uncertainties.
Using high‑resolution tomography and AI on Cretaceous rocks from Japan and Vancouver Island, researchers reconstruct Nanaimoteuthis haggarti as a colossal 60‑foot octopus that ground shells and bones with a massive beak, likely making it an apex predator in its ecosystem and possibly among the oldest finned octopuses; the study also suggests brain lateralization, though that claim will need more evidence.
Whole-genome analysis places the divergence of squid and cuttlefish about 100 million years ago in the Mid‑Cretaceous. After a long period of little change, the End‑Cretaceous asteroid crisis drove these soft-bodied cephalopods into deep-water refuges, followed by rapid diversification as reefs rebuilt in shallower waters, with shell loss or reduction helping many lineages cope with ocean acidification and expanding the modern Decapodiform diversity.
New analysis of 15 fossil jaws from Japan and Vancouver Island, plus 12 more from Japan using digital fossil mining, estimates Late Cretaceous octopuses ranged 23–62 ft and were likely apex predators, with wear on their beaks indicating they crushed hard prey—making them among the largest invertebrates and possibly rivals to marine reptiles and sharks.
A 300-million-year-old fossil long considered the world’s oldest octopus (Pohlsepia mazonensis) has been reclassified as a nautiloid (Paleocadmus pohli) after synchrotron imaging revealed internal features incompatible with octopuses, overturning about 150 million years of cephalopod timing and reshaping our understanding of when octopuses first appeared.
New synchrotron imaging of the 300-million-year-old fossil Pohlsepia mazonensis shows it is a nautiloid relative, not an octopus. The fossil reveals a nautilus-like radula with 11 tooth-like elements per row and other features, leading researchers to reclassify the find and push octopus origins into the Mesozoic era (late Jurassic at latest). Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study also provides the oldest soft-tissue evidence of a nautiloid, reshaping our understanding of cephalopod evolution.
Scientists have bioengineered bacteria to produce large quantities of the rare pigment xanthommatin, which is responsible for the camouflage abilities of octopuses and squids, using a novel growth-coupled biosynthesis method that significantly increases yield and could advance both biological understanding and industrial applications.
Scientists at UC San Diego have developed a groundbreaking method to produce large quantities of xanthommatin, a pigment responsible for octopus camouflage, using engineered bacteria, which could revolutionize material production and have applications in cosmetics, coatings, and sensors.
A 2021 study demonstrated that cuttlefish can pass a version of the marshmallow test, showing they can delay gratification and adapt their behavior, which suggests advanced cognitive abilities possibly evolved for their complex foraging strategies. The research highlights the intelligence of cephalopods and their ability to learn and anticipate rewards, challenging assumptions about animal cognition.
A study demonstrates that cuttlefish can exhibit patience and self-control comparable to some vertebrates, challenging assumptions about invertebrate intelligence and suggesting that complex cognition may have evolved independently in different animal lineages.
New research reveals that octopuses expend significant energy when changing color, comparable to a human's calorie burn during a 30-minute jog. This study, using ruby octopuses, measured oxygen consumption during color changes, highlighting the energetic cost of their sophisticated camouflage system. The findings provide insights into the biological trade-offs octopuses make for survival, as their color-changing ability is more energy-intensive than similar adaptations in other animals like chameleons.
Bioengineers have developed a new drug delivery device inspired by cephalopods, such as cuttlefish, that can be swallowed to deliver drugs typically requiring injections. The device uses jets to inject drugs into the digestive tract lining, improving bioavailability compared to traditional oral methods. This innovation aims to combine the convenience of oral delivery with the efficiency of injections, potentially transforming how medications like insulin are administered. While promising, further testing and human trials are needed to assess long-term efficacy and safety.
Researchers have discovered that octopuses may have the oldest sex chromosomes in the animal kingdom, with evidence of a ZW sex-determination system found in their genome. This unique chromosome pair, present in the California two-spot octopus, suggests an ancient origin dating back between 455 and 248 million years ago. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about sex determination in animals and highlights the need for further research into the evolution of sex chromosomes.