The discovery of the ancestral species of the four-legged whale in Egypt | temper nature

amphibious fossil Phiomecetus Anubis It was originally discovered in the western desert of Egypt.

His skull resembles that of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian deity with a jackal head – the god of the dead, as he was called.

The ancestors of modern whales evolved from deer-like land mammals that lived on Earth for 10 million years.

It weighs about 600 kg and is 3 meters long Phiomecetus Anubis It had a jaw strong enough to catch its prey, according to the study published by “Proceedings of the Royal Society B” on Wednesday (25). The whale was able to walk on land and swim in the water.

Its partial skeleton was found in the Fayoum depression in Egypt and analyzed by scientists at Mansoura University. Although the area is now deserted, it was once covered by the sea and is a rich source of fossils.

“Oh Phiomecetus Anubis “It is a new species of whale and a major discovery of Egyptian and African palaeontology,” study author Abdullah Gohar told Reuters news agency.

Although this is not the first time that a legged whale fossil has been found, it is believed that Phiomecetus Anubis It is the oldest type of semi-aquatic whale discovered in Africa.

The first whales are believed to have evolved in southern Asia about 50 million years ago. In 2011, a team of paleontologists in Peru discovered a 43 million-year-old whale fossil with four legs, bare feet, and hooves.