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Discovery of extinct crocodile species in Egypt

Overview

Researchers have identified a new extinct species of crocodile, named Herugavialis cairensis, from fossils found in Egypt’s Mokattam Formation. The fossils, which date back approximately 45 million years to the Middle Eocene, were originally collected in the 1920s but were misidentified for nearly a century as the genus Tomistoma.

By utilizing advanced CT scanning technology, the international team of researchers identified unique anatomical features, such as an elevated ridge around the eyes, that distinguish this species from the false gharial. The fossils were recovered from the same limestone geological layer used to construct the Great Sphinx of Giza. Researchers noted that the fossilized skull is missing the tip of its snout, a physical characteristic that mirrors the damage seen on the Great Sphinx.

Named after the Egyptian god Heru, the species belongs to the gharial group and was adapted for catching small fish with a long, slender snout. While modern gharials are restricted to freshwater environments in South and Southeast Asia, these extinct species inhabited shallow marine environments.

Entities

University College London · Great Sphinx of Giza · Herugavialis cairensis · Swedish Museum of Natural History · Great Sphinx

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 4 sources
    New extinct crocodile species discovered in Giza, Egypt

    Paleontologists have identified a new extinct crocodile species, Herugavialis cairensis, in Egypt, which had been misidentified for a century as a false gharial.

  2. [CULTURE] 25 sources
    Egypt fossils reveal new extinct crocodile species

    Researchers have identified a new extinct crocodile species, Herugavialis cairensis, from fossils found in the same Egyptian limestone used to build the Great Sphinx.

Sources

abc17news.com · bors-nliv.svd.se · capital.pe · de.euronews.com · descopera.ro · ecuadoruniversitario.com · elsumario.com · elveedordigital.com · es.mongabay.com · fakti.bg · family.se · hna.de · issues.fr · kesq.com · krdo.com · kurierverlag.de · kvia.com · libertaddigital.com · localnews8.com · mannheim24.de · mayacomunicacion.com.mx · netnews.bg · popsci.com · que.es · sydsvenskan.se · theobjective.com · time.news · tn.nova.cz · www1.pluska.sk