In Fayum, Egypt, a land that is now dry, there was once a vibrant forest full of life. This paradise was home to many creatures, including primates, hippopotamuses, elephants, and hyraxes. However, these animals faced a formidable predator: a leopard-sized hunter with powerful jaws and sharp teeth.
Paleontologists recently made an exciting discovery—an almost complete skull of this ancient predator, part of a group called Hyaenodonta. A team led by Shorouq Al-Ashqar from Mansoura University and the American University in Egypt named this creature Bastetodon syrtos, after the Egyptian goddess of protection, Bastet.
Al-Ashqar described the excavation process as meticulous. After days of digging through layers of rock that date back 30 million years, one team member spotted large teeth peeking out of the ground. That moment led to the discovery of the skull, a dream achievement for paleontologists.
The Fayum Depression is crucial for studying a unique 15 million-year period during the Paleogene, a time that played a significant role in the rise of mammals. Fossils from this area provide insights into the ancient ecosystems of Africa.
Matt Borths, a paleontologist from Duke University, emphasized the importance of Fayum. He noted that without these findings, we would know little about how African mammals, like elephants and primates, evolved.
The skull of Bastetodon gives us a lot of information about its anatomy and lifestyle. This animal was a hypercarnivore, meaning it ate primarily meat—over 70% of its diet. It stood at the top of the food chain, much like today’s lions and crocodiles.
Interestingly, this discovery also helps clarify fossils found 120 years ago, linked to lion-sized members of the Hyaenodonta group. Initially, these fossils were compared to European species, but this new information suggests they originated in Africa and have distinct characteristics.
These ancient predators, including Bastetodon, migrated from Africa to other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, spreading to Asia, Europe, and North America. However, their extinction in Africa, due to environmental changes, opened up new opportunities for other predators.
Al-Ashqar pointed out that finding Bastetodon enhances our understanding of hyaenodont diversity and evolution. The research team is excited to continue exploring the relationships among these ancient creatures and their habitats over time and across different continents.
This remarkable research has been published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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skull bones, Mansoura University, Fayum, paleontologists, cranial anatomy, Shorouq Al-Ashqar, Fayum Depression
