Giant 19-meter-long kraken-like octopuses may have been the apex predators in the Late Cretaceous-era oceans, according to new research.

It was more than it was Kraken-ed up to be. An octopus the size of the Hollywood Sign might seem like a monster from Greek mythology. However, new fossil evidence reveals that massive “kraken”-like cephalopods ruled the seas 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.

Giant octopus fossil: A new study published in Science reveals that giant octopus-like creatures up to 19 metres long lived as apex predators in the ancient oceans 100 million years ago. Fossilised beaks show they crushed bones and rivalled mosasaurs.

The 19-metre-long Nanaimoteuthis haggarti was a fearsome carnivore eating fish, crustaceans and many other sea creatures.

The "enormous" creatures were active carnivores who routinely crushed hard shells and bones with their powerful bites.

Japanese scientists confirmed the existence of a prehistoric 60-foot octopus that was the world's deadliest predator

Fossilized jaw remains have revealed colossal "kraken-like" octopuses that lived alongside dinosaurs, potentially reaching 19 meters in length. These ancient invertebrates were apex predators in the Cretaceous seas,