A marked 120 My gap in the fossil record of vampire squids separates the only extant species (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) from its Early Cretaceous, morphologically-similar ancestors. While the extant species possesses unique physiological adaptations to bathyal environments with low oxygen concentrations, Mesozoic vampyromorphs inhabited epicontinental shelves. However, the timing of their retreat towards bathyal and oxygen-depleted habitats is poorly documented. Here, we document a first record of a post-Mesozoic vampire squid from the Oligocene of the Central Paratethys represented by a vampyromorph gladius. We assign Necroteuthis hungarica to the family Vampyroteuthidae that links Mesozoic loligosepiids with Recent Vampyroteuthis. Micropalaeontological, palaeoecological, and geochemical analyses demonstrate that Necroteuthis hungarica inhabited bathyal environments with bottom-water anoxia and high primary productivity in salinity-stratified Central Paratethys basins. Vampire squids were thus adapted to bathyal, oxygen-depleted habitats at least since the Oligocene. We suggest that the Cretaceous and the early Cenozoic OMZs triggered their deep-sea specialization.

吸血鱿鱼化石记录中的一个明显的 120 My 空白将唯一现存的物种（ Vampyroteuthis infernalis ）与其早白垩世形态相似的祖先分开。虽然现存物种对低氧浓度的深海环境具有独特的生理适应能力，但中生代的吸血类动物却居住在大陆架上。然而，它们撤退到深海和缺氧栖息地的时间却鲜有记录。在这里，我们记录了来自中副特提斯渐新世的后中生代吸血乌贼的第一个记录，以吸血型短剑乌贼为代表。我们将匈牙利 Necroteuthis归入 Vampyroteuthidae 科，该科将中生代 loligosepiids 与现代Vampyroteuthis联系起来。微古生物学、古生态学和地球化学分析表明，匈牙利Necroteuthis humgarica生活在盐度分层的中央副特提斯盆地底层水缺氧且初级生产力较高的深海环境中。因此，至少从渐新世开始，吸血乌贼就适应了深海、缺氧的栖息地。我们认为白垩纪和早新生代 OMZ 引发了它们的深海专业化。