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Shark fossil discoveries in Egypt's Western Desert
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2026-08-28 03:45 UTC → 2026-08-29 08:59 UTC ·
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Paleontologists led by Tarek Yassin from Cairo University have identified a ‘shark graveyard’ in Egypt’s Western Desert. Fossilized teeth recovered from the Duwi Formation at the Abu-Tartur Plateau indicate that the region was part of the Tethys Ocean during the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 to 145 million years ago. The discovery includes Excavations conducted between 2020 and 2022 recovered teeth from at least five extinct seven species of lamniform sharks, bringing sharks. The findings indicate that during the total known shark diversity in Late Cretaceous, sea levels were up to 170 meters higher than they are today, covering much of the Abu-Tartur region current desert in shallow, warm tropical seas. The fossils were located within a phosphate-rich layer known to at least seven species. Notably, have previously yielded fossils of fish, sea turtles, and marine reptiles. The discovery includes species such as Serratolamna cf. serrata and Squalicorax bassanii bassanii, which have not been previously recorded in Egypt, while Egypt. Additionally, Scapanorhynchus cf. raphiodon may represent a first for Africa. The variety in tooth morphology suggests these sharks occupied diverse ecological niches, ranging from shallow coastal waters to deeper environments. Researchers conclude the area was once a warm, nutrient-rich tropical marine ecosystem supported by upwelling currents, which also sustained fish, sea turtles, and marine reptiles. currents.
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- 2026-08-29 08:59 UTC Shark fossil discoveries in Egypt's Western Desert
- 2026-08-28 03:45 UTC Shark fossil discoveries in Egypt's Western Desert
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