Paleontological discoveries of ancient Egyptian marine life

Paleontological discoveries in Egypt continue to provide evidence that the country’s current desert regions were once inhabited by diverse marine ecosystems.

Initial findings at the Qreiya 3 site in the Eastern Desert identified approximately 500 fish fossils from the Paleocene period, roughly 62 million years ago. These fossils, representing over 20 types of ray-finned fish, offer insights into marine life recovery following the dinosaur mass extinction. Additionally, shark teeth from at least seven species were discovered in the Abu-Tartur plateau, supported by phosphorite deposits indicating prosperous underwater environments during the Cretaceous period.

Subsequent research has expanded on these prehistoric environments. A study in Royal Society Open Science detailed the discovery of Herugavialis cairensis, an extinct crocodilian from approximately 45 million years ago, found in the Mokattam Formation. Furthermore, new findings in the Duwi Formation of the Western Desert identified 14 fossilized shark teeth dating to the Late Cretaceous Period, between 84 and 72 million years ago. These discoveries collectively reinforce the conclusion that the Sahara Desert was once a warm, shallow sea.