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[CULTURE] · Egypt · 25 sources

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Part of situation: Discovery of extinct crocodile species in Egypt (2 clusters)

Egypt fossils reveal new extinct crocodile species

Herugavialis cairensis extinct crocodile species paleontology Mokattam Formation Great Sphinx of Giza

An international team of researchers has identified a new extinct species of crocodile, named Herugavialis cairensis, from fossils found in the limestone of Egypt's Mokattam Formation. This geological layer provided the stone used to construct the Great Sphinx of Giza.

The discovery, published in Royal Society Open Science, stems from a re-examination of fossils originally collected in the 1920s. For nearly a century, the specimens were misidentified as belonging to the genus Tomistoma. However, modern paleontological techniques, including CT scans, revealed distinct anatomical features, such as an elevated ridge around the eyes, that necessitate a new genus.

The species lived approximately 45 million years ago during the Middle Eocene in shallow marine environments. Researchers noted a striking physical coincidence: the fossilized skull is missing the tip of its snout, mirroring the missing nose of the Great Sphinx. This resemblance inspired the name Herugavialis, derived from the Egyptian god Heru (Horus). The new species belongs to the gharial group, characterized by long, slender snouts adapted for catching small fish.

Entities

Great Sphinx · Great Sphinx of Giza · Herugavialis · Herugavialis cairensis · Herugavialis cairensis · Mokattam Formation · Paul Burke · Royal Society · Swedish Museum of Natural History · University College London

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Sources

Ny krokodilart upptäckt – i sfinxens sten [www.svd.se]
Descubren una nueva especie de cocodrilo entre las rocas de la Gran Esfinge de Egipto [elveedordigital.com]
Ny krokodilart upptäckt – i sfinxens sten [www.aftonbladet.se]
El cocodrilo sin hocico que quedó atrapado en las piedras de la Gran Esfinge de Guiza | Maya Comunicación [mayacomunicacion.com.mx]
Непознат досега вид крокодил е живял в скалите под Сфинкса - NetNews – Новините на Ямбол [netnews.bg]
Descubren una nueva especie de cocodrilo entre las rocas de la Gran Esfinge de Egipto [rpp.pe]
Descubren nueva especie de cocodrilo entre rocas de la Gran Esfinge de Egipto [elsumario.com]
Fast 100 Jahre lang falsch bestimmt: CT-Scan enthüllt neue Krokodilart aus dem alten Ägypten [www.kurierverlag.de]
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx [abc17news.com]
Forscher finden ägyptischen Urzeitkrokodil ohne Nasenspitze wie die Sphinx [de.euronews.com]
Roca din care a fost construit Sfinxul ascundea un crocodil vechi de 45 de milioane de ani [www.descopera.ro]
Un animal del antiguo Egipto: identifican nueva especie de cocodrilo en fósiles hallados en piedra usada para construir la Gran Esfinge [es.mongabay.com]
Непознат досега вид крокодил е живял в скалите под Сфинкса [fakti.bg]
Fast 100 Jahre lang falsch bestimmt: CT-Scan enthüllt neue Krokodilart aus dem alten Ägypten [www.hna.de]
Un crocodilien éteint a été découvert parmi les rochers qui ont construit le Grand Sphinx [issues.fr]
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx [krdo.com]
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx [localnews8.com]
Fast 100 Jahre lang falsch bestimmt: CT-Scan enthüllt neue Krokodilart aus dem alten Ägypten [www.mannheim24.de]
Descubren una nueva especie de cocodrilo extinto en Guiza (Egipto) [theobjective.com]
Researchers Identify New Genus of Extinct Crocodile From Egypt Fossils [time.news]
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx [kesq.com]
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx [kvia.com]
Descubren una nueva especie de cocodrilo en Egipto [www.libertaddigital.com]
Ny krokodilart upptäckt – i sfinxens sten [www.sydsvenskan.se]
New crocodile species found in rocks of Egypt's Great Sphinx [www.popsci.com]