A research team from Mansoura University, in collaboration with international researchers, was able to discover a nearly complete skull of a new species of extinct predator that lived in North Africa about 30 million years ago. This species belongs to the Hyaenodonta family, a group of carnivores that dominated the Afro-Arab environments after the extinction of the dinosaurs. The results of this discovery were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, a prestigious scientific journal specializing in vertebrate fossils.
According to the statement issued by the team, the skull was discovered during an expedition to the Fayum Depression in the spring of 2020, an area considered a window into the history of mammalian evolution in Africa and the Arab world. As the team prepared to leave the site, Bilal Salem, a member of the team, noticed some protruding teeth, which led to the discovery of the skull, which was exceptionally well preserved and in three-dimensional condition free of deformities, a rarity in the world of paleontology.
Analysis indicated that Basitodon weighed about 27 kilograms, which puts it in the category of medium-sized animals, similar in size to modern hyenas or tigers. This predator was characterized by sharp, knife-like teeth and strong jaw muscles, making it a fierce hunter in forests that were teeming with life, including the ancestors of apes, hippopotamuses, and elephants.
The discovery also shed light on the scientific classification of another genus of hyaenodonts known as Pterodon, as the study confirmed that this genus was found only in Europe, not in Africa. Therefore, the team renamed another genus that lived in the Fayoum during the same time period and named it Sekhmetops, after the goddess Sekhmet, who was depicted with a lion’s head and symbolized anger and war.
Morphological and phylogenetic analyses showed that Basitodon and Sekhmetops belong to the Hineluorine family, a group of hyenadodonts of Afro-Arabian origin that later spread across Asia, Europe, India and North America through successive migration waves.
This discovery is an important step in understanding the evolution, diversity and geographic distribution of hyenadodonts. It also sheds light on the role that climate change played in shaping ancient ecosystems, especially during the transition period between the warm Eocene and the cooler Oligocene. Research is needed to understand the relationships between hyenadodont species spread around the world and how they evolved over time.
