Page 12 - aruba-today-20220301

A12 science
Wednesday 9 March 2022

Octopus ancestors lived before era of

dinosaurs, study shows

By CHRISTINA LARSON an ink sac,” probably used er to an octopus than a
AP Science Writer to squirt out a dark liquid squid. Previously, the “old-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sci- cloak to help to evade est known definitive” vam-
entists have found the old- predators, just like modern pyropod was from around
est known ancestor of oc- octopuses, said Christo- 240 million years ago, the
topuses – an approximate- pher Whalen, an American authors said.
ly 330 million-year-old fossil Museum of Natural History Whether or not having an
unearthed in Montana. paleontologist and co-au- ancient octopus — or vam-
The researchers conclud- thor of the study published pire squid — bearing your
ed the ancient creature Tuesday in the journal Na- name is actually a com-
lived millions of years earlier ture Communications. pliment, the scientists say
than previously believed, The creature, a vampyro- they intended admiration
meaning that octopuses pod, was likely the ances- for the president’s science
originated before the era tor of both modern octo- and research priorities.q
of dinosaurs. puses and vampire squid, a
The 4.7-inch (12-centime- confusingly named marine
ter) fossil has 10 limbs — critter that’s much clos-
modern octopuses have
eight — each with two
rows of suckers. It probably
lived in a shallow, tropical
ocean bay.
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