Paleontologists have discovered an almost complete skull of the hyaenodont Bastetodon syrtos, a 30-million-year-old predator that lived in what is now Egypt. The find provides significant insights into the evolution and diversity of hyaenodonts, a group of carnivorous mammals that lived before modern-day cats, dogs, and hyenas.
Bastetodon syrtos was about the size of a leopard or hyena, with sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles that suggest a strong bite. Its diet likely consisted of primates, early hippos, elephants, and hyraxes. The animal’s fossil was unearthed in the Jebel Qatrani Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt.
According to Dr. Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a paleontologist at Mansoura University and American University in Cairo, Bastetodon syrtos is a key discovery that sheds light on the origins of African ecosystems and the evolution of African mammals. The team’s research also reevaluated an ancient group of lion-sized hyaenodonts discovered over 120 years ago.
The study found that Bastetodon syrtos and another ancient species, Sekhmetops, both belonged to a group of hyaenodonts that originated in Africa. These predators spread across multiple continents, including Asia, Europe, India, and North America, before eventually going extinct due to changes in global climate and tectonic activity.
The discovery of Bastetodon syrtos has significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of carnivorous mammals and their role in shaping African ecosystems.
Source: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/bastetodon-syrtos-13673.html