New species of ancient four-legged whale discovered in Egypt
Scientists in Egypt have identified a new species of four-legged whale-like amphibian that lived around 43 million years ago.
The fossil of the amphibious Phiomicetus anubis was originally discovered in Egypt’s Western Desert.
Its skull resembles that of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian jackal-headed god of the dead after which it was named.
The ancestors of modern whales developed from deer-like mammals that lived on land over the course of 10 million years.
Weighing an estimated 600kg and three metres (10ft) in length, the Phiomicetus anubis had strong jaws to catch prey, according to the study published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society B on Wednesday.
The partial skeleton was found in Egypt’s Fayum Depression and analysed by scientists at Mansoura University. Although the area is now desert, it was once covered by sea and is a rich source of fossils.
“Phiomicetus anubis is a key new whale species, and a critical discovery for Egyptian and African palaeontology,” the study’s lead author, Abdullah Gohar, told Reuters news agency.
While this is not the first time the fossil of a whale with legs has been found, the Phiomicetus anubis is believed to be the earliest type of semi-aquatic whale to be discovered in Africa.
The first whales are thought to have first evolved in South Asia around 50 million years ago. In 2011, a team of palaeontologists in Peru discovered a 43-million-year-old whale fossil with four legs, webbed feet and hooves.
See more here: bbc.co.uk
Header image: Dr Robert W. Boessenecker
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Howdy
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A four legged whale, a four legged whale, he’ll never let you down.. Wow. Definitely resembles a whale.
“Anubis, the ancient Egyptian jackal-headed god of the dead after which it was named”
The animal headed Egyptian gods didn’t actually have animal heads you know, It was an indicator of their characteristics.
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Photios
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How do you know?
When did you see Anubis?
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DeadHeartDiary
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Anubis/Pluto actually walked out of my room a few seconds ago.
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slandermen
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Oh look he’s back.
I think he wants chicken. I don’t eat chicken, but hey.
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Howdy
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I know what I know.
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Howdy
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Actually, I have a backstage pass for the 1000 year Eloheem bash.
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slandermen
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Damn, I thought you said hash.
Fucking disappointing that.
https://hashshashin.bandcamp.com/album/nihsahshsah-adj
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slandermen
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People need to go take a really good at look at the basis of paleontological projections. Amazingly imaginary…and with known fraudulence, “unscience” institutions and such associated.
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slandermen
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I just discovered a brand new ancient dinosaur.
Hey, just imagine what an authentic (relative to what is passed off as dinosaurs) dinosaur an anaconda that ate a cayman along that ate a feline would be, along with like perhaps pieces of high calcium and silica stuff would be (calcium and silica aren’t often found in rocks, btw, that’s how you know if you find calcium and silica, you definitely found a dinosaur).
Like an eat legged dragon.
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slandermen
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I mistyped one of the woods there, sorry.
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Chris*
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Looks suspiciously like manatees and dugongs. Dugongs live on the east coast of Australia in the tropical regions, they spend their life in the sea and graze on sea grasses. They weigh 600kg and live for 70 years , do not start breeding until they are 10 yo, can walk and swim and known colloquially as ‘sea cows’. They are in no way related to whales. Palaeontologists just make stuff up.
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Herb Rose
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Amphibians evolved into mammals? I think they are confusing similarity with ancestry.
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