Archaeologists have unearthed a nearly complete skull of a new species of Hyaenodonta, a 30-million-year-old apex predator, in the Egyptian desert. The discovery, led by paleontologist Shorouq Al-Ashqar, reveals a fearsome carnivore named Bastetodon, the size of a modern-day leopard, with sharp teeth and a powerful bite.
Bastetodon hunted in African ecosystems after the extinction of the dinosaurs, preying on hyraxes, early elephants, hippos, and primates. The name Bastetodon honors the Egyptian goddess Bastet, symbolizing protection and acknowledging the animal's cat-like snout.
Researchers also re-evaluated the group Sekhmetops, lion-sized hyaenodonts, placing them within the African group of hyaenodonts, like Bastetodon. This corrects previous classifications that linked them to a European group.
The discovery of Bastetodon provides valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution, shedding light on ancient African ecosystems and the predators that once dominated them.