Researchers have unearthed a nearly complete skull of a previously unknown meat-eating mammal in Egypt’s Fayum Desert, revealing a top predator, Bastetodon syrtos, that lived around 30 million years ago. The discovery provides new insights into ancient African ecosystems and reshapes the understanding of long-extinct carnivores.
The predator was about the size of a modern leopard. It had sharp teeth and strong jaw muscles, suggesting a powerful bite that helped it hunt other mammals, including early primates, hippos, elephants, and hyraxes. Researchers say Bastetodon syrtos ruled the food chain during a time when the monkey-like ancestors of humans were just beginning to evolve.
“For days, the team meticulously excavated layers of rock dating back around 30 million years,” said paleontologist and lead author Shorouq Al-Ashqar, from Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo.
“Just as we were about to conclude our work, a team member spotted something remarkable —a set of large teeth sticking out of the ground. His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist.”
Predator Bastetodon syrtos skull found in Fayum Depression, Egypt
The skull was found in the Fayum Depression, Egypt, a region once covered by thick, green forests but now a vast desert. The site is a window into 15 million years of mammal evolution, capturing the shift from the warm, tropical conditions of the Eocene period to the cooler, drier climate of the Oligocene. Scientists say these environmental changes played a key role in shaping many ecosystems still seen today.
Paleontologists uncover a nearly complete skull of a 30 million-year-old apex carnivore in Egypt
A nearly complete skull fossil found in Egypt has revealed a new species of Hyaenodonta, an apex carnivore that mysteriously went extinct about 25 million years ago. pic.twitter.com/0NOUF0uIlB
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Bastetodon syrtos belongs to a long-extinct group of mammals known as Hyaenodonts. These animals lived long before modern carnivores like lions, wolves, and hyenas. With their sharp, slicing teeth and strong jaws, Hyaenodonts were once dominant predators across Africa.
The research team, known as “Sallam Lab,” named the new species after Bastet, the cat-headed goddess of protection, health, and pleasure in ancient Egyptian mythology. The choice also reflects the animal’s short, feline-like snout and sharp teeth. The suffix “-odon” means “tooth,” highlighting its powerful bite.
New genus Sekhmetops sheds light on ancient carnivores
The findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, go beyond identifying a new species. The discovery prompted scientists to re-examine fossils found in the same area more than 120 years ago. These fossils, belonging to lion-sized hyaenodonts, had remained puzzling for decades.
After careful study, researchers introduced a new genus, Sekhmetops, for the old fossil material. The name honors Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of war in ancient Egyptian mythology. The suffix “-ops” means “face,” referring to the skull features that distinguish the genus.
“The discovery of Bastetodon is a significant achievement in understanding the diversity and evolution of Hyaenodonts and their global distribution,” Al-Ashqar added.