Earth Sciences

Fossil evidence for vampire squid inhabiting oxygen-depleted ocean zones since at least the Oligocene

M. Košťák, J. Schlögl, et al.

Discover the fascinating evolution of vampire squids as researchers, including Martin Košťák and Ján Schlögl, unveil a 120 million-year gap in the fossil record. Their groundbreaking study introduces *Necroteuthis hungarica*, revealing insight into how these creatures thrived in anoxic, productive environments since the Oligocene.

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Abstract

A significant gap of 120 million years in the fossil record of vampire squids exists between the only extant species (*Vampyroteuthis infernalis*) and its Early Cretaceous ancestors. This study presents the first post-Mesozoic vampire squid fossil from the Oligocene of the Central Paratethys, identified as a vampyromorph gladius and assigned to *Necroteuthis hungarica*. Analyses indicate that *N. hungarica* inhabited bathyal environments with bottom-water anoxia and high primary productivity. This suggests vampire squids were adapted to these conditions at least since the Oligocene, likely due to Cretaceous and early Cenozoic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs).

Publisher

Communications Biology

Published On

Feb 18, 2021

Authors

Martin Košťák, Ján Schlögl, Dirk Fuchs, Katarína Holcová, Natalia Hudáčková, Adam Culka, István Fözy, Adam Tomašových, Rastislav Milovský, Juraj Šurka, Martin Mazuch

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