World’s oldest octopus isn’t really an octopus

A reconstruction drawing of the species Pohlsepia mazonensis, originally believed to be an ancient octopus but reclassifed after new research (Picture: Dr Thomas Clements, University of Reading/Cover Media)

It’s one of the world’s most famous octopus that turned out not to be an octopus at all.

This 300-million-year-old fossil was thought to be the earliest known example of one of the eight-legged sea-dwellers, and even features in the Guinness Book of Records.

But in what amounts to a prehistoric case of mistaken identity, the preserved creature turns out to be an entirely new species.

The sample’s true nature, hidden because of decay before fossilisation began, was revealed after researchers used synchrotron imaging to search inside the rock.

A University of Reading team discovered tiny teeth, which proved that Pohlsepia mazonensis was not an octopus at all. Instead i...