Newly discovered ancient apex predator had knife-sharp teeth and bone-crushing jaws

A recently discovered apex predator from ancient Egypt has captured the attention of paleontologists around the world. The Bastetodon, with the body of a dog, the face of a cat, and powerful jaws capable of crushing elephant bones, roamed the lush forests of Egypt approximately 30 million years ago.

The remarkable discovery was made by a team of researchers led by Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a palaeontologist at Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo. The team unearthed a remarkably intact skull in the Egyptian desert, which has now been identified as belonging to the Bastetodon species. The findings were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The skull was discovered during an expedition to the Fayum Depression, an archaeological site in Egypt’s western deserts. Belal Salem, a team member who is now with Ohio University, spotted a large set of teeth sticking out of the ground, leading to the exciting discovery.

When Al-Ashqar first saw the fossil, she was amazed by its almost perfect condition, describing it as “like it died yesterday.” The skull belonged to an extinct order of mammals called hyaenodonta, fierce carnivores that predated modern-day cats, dogs, and hyenas. Due to its cat-like teeth structure, the researchers named it Bastetodon after the ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet.

Comparisons with another lion-sized species called Sekhmetops, discovered over a century ago, revealed that both species originated in Africa before spreading to other continents. The researchers take pride in connecting these ancient predators to Egypt’s rich history.

Hans Larsson, a Canadian paleontologist, praised the discovery as “pretty cool” and speculated on the impact Bastetodon would have had on the ecosystem. He believes the presence of such a large carnivore would have influenced the complexity of the food chain and ecosystem.

Al-Ashqar suggests that Bastetodon likely preyed on primates, early hippos, and early elephants based on the fossil record. Despite weighing only 27 kilograms, its sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and strength allowed it to take down large animals without any predators of its own.

The extinction of hyaenodonta remains a topic of debate among scientists, with theories ranging from changing climates to competition with modern-day predators. Studying fossils like the Bastetodon in places like Fayum provides valuable insights into how animals adapted to global changes throughout history.

By unraveling the mysteries of ancient apex predators like the Bastetodon, scientists can better understand the impact of climate change and ecological pressures on past ecosystems, offering valuable lessons for the future.