New Crocodilian Species Identified from Fossil Found in Rocks Used to Build the Sphinx
A study released on October 7 in Royal Society Open Science has identified a fossilized skull, unearthed in the 1920s from the Mokattam Formation near Cairo, as a distinct genus and species of gavial, named Herugavialis cairensis. This limestone formation, which is 45 million years old, was historically mined by ancient Egyptians for constructing the Great Sphinx of Giza and the Pyramids. Initially, the 18-inch skull was classified as Tomistoma cairense. However, micro-CT scanning revealed sufficient differences to warrant a new classification. The name pays homage to the Egyptian deity Heru (Horus). Lead author Paul Burke mentioned that H. cairensis coexisted with other gavials, while co-author Hesham Sallam emphasized the link between Egypt's natural and human history.
Key facts
- A fossil skull found in the 1920s in the Mokattam Formation near Cairo has been identified as a new genus and species, Herugavialis cairensis.
- The Mokattam Formation is the same limestone that ancient Egyptians used around 4,500 years ago to build the Great Sphinx of Giza and the Pyramids.
- The study was published October 7 in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
- The skull, about 18 inches long, was originally classified as Tomistoma cairense due to its similarity to the living Tomistoma schlegelii.
- Micro-CT scanning revealed differences that led to the reclassification as a new genus and species.
- The species name honors the Egyptian god Heru (Horus), and both the fossil and the Sphinx are missing nose tips.
- Herugavialis cairensis lived alongside at least two other gavial species in a shallow marine habitat.
- Today only two gavial species survive, both endangered: Tomistoma schlegelii and Gavialis gangeticus.
Entities
Artists
- Paul Burke
- Hesham Sallam
- Alex Hastings
- Karim Zanaty
- Elijah Wolfson
- Jake Buehler
- Taylor Nicioli
- Margherita Bassi
Institutions
- Royal Society Open Science
- Mansoura University
- Swedish Museum of Natural History
- Science Museum of Minnesota
- Washington Post
- Science News
- CNN
- Smithsonian Magazine
Locations
- Giza
- Egypt
- Cairo
- Mokattam Formation
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- India
- Mediterranean
- Sweden
- Minnesota
- United States