Skull of a 30-million-year-old apex predator discovered in Egypt

Around 30 million years ago, Egypt was once covered in dense forests inhabited by fearsome big cat-sized carnivores known as Hyaenodonta. These powerful predators thrived in the absence of dinosaurs but eventually faced their own demise.

Recently, a team of scientists exploring the desert in present-day Fayum, Egypt made a groundbreaking discovery. They uncovered a new species of Hyaenodonta with incredibly strong jaw muscles. This new species, named Bastetodon syrtos, has been detailed in a study published on February 17 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Spotting a skull

Hyaenodonts like Bastetodon existed long before modern carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs. With sharp teeth reminiscent of hyenas, they roamed African landscapes preying on early primates, hippos, elephants, and hyraxes in the ancient forests southwest of present-day Cairo. The team of paleontologists was excavating 30 million-year-old rock layers in the Fayum Depression, a critical fossil site for understanding mammal evolution in Africa.

The discovery of a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, with its sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, marked a significant find. The specimen was named after the Egyptian goddess Bastet, symbolizing protection, pleasure, and good health.

A new look at an old discovery

The new species, Bastetodon, shed light on a group of lion-sized hyaenodonts first identified in Fayum over a century ago. This specimen, now classified under a new genus called Sekhmetops, underscores the African origin of these large hyaenodonts. The goddess Sekhmet, associated with lions, connects symbolically with Bastet, reflecting their scientific and symbolic ties within the same order.

Both Bastetodon and Sekhmetops eventually migrated from Africa to Asia, Europe, India, and North America, becoming some of the largest carnivorous mammals around 18 million years ago. However, changes in climate and tectonics during the Oligocene epoch led to the decline of these specialized hyaenodonts, resulting in their extinction approximately 25 million years ago.

The times they are a changing

As Africa underwent significant environmental shifts, the rise of modern carnivorous mammals like cats and dogs spelled the end for hyaenodonts. The discovery of Bastetodon provides valuable insights into the evolution and global distribution of these ancient predators, prompting further research into their relationships with changing environments over time and across continents.