Scientists said a fossil unearthed in central Montana of a species named Syllipsimopodi bideni represents the oldest-known relative of today’s octopuses and boasts 10 arms, with two being twice as long as the other eight.

Syllipsimopodi pushes back by 82 million years the origins of a group called vampyropods that includes today’s octopuses.

Syllipsimopodi represents the only member of the octopus lineage with 10 arms, meaning two were lost in later evolution.

Source: The Hindu