Creature was an aggressive carnivore that hunted in water, remains show evolutionary link to modern whales
Egyptian scientists say the fossil of a four-legged prehistoric whale unearthed over a decade ago in the country’s Western Desert, is that of a previously unknown species, believed to have lived 43 million years ago that lived both on land and sea, and was a deadly hunter, The Associated Press reports.
The fossil helps show how whales evolved from plant-eating land mammals into meat-eating sea dwellers, a transition that took over 10 million years. Egypt’s Western Desert region is already known for the so-called Whale Valley, or Wadi Al-Hitan, that contains fossil remains of another type of prehistoric whales.
The new species stands out for its elongated skull and snout that suggest it was an efficient carnivore capable of grasping and chewing its prey. It was about 3 meters (9 feet long) and weighed around 600 kilograms, according to researchers. It is also believed to have had sharp hearing and sense of smell.
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