Scientists Discover Ancient Predator Bastetodon in Fayoum

Paleontologists have identified a new species of apex predator, Bastetodon, from a 30-million-year-old fossil unearthed in Fayoum Desert. The discovery, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, provides a rare glimpse into the evolution of ancient carnivorous mammals.

Bastetodon, a leopard-sized predator with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, belonged to the extinct hyaenodont family, which dominated ecosystems long before modern carnivores. It likely preyed on early elephants, hippos and primates in what was once a lush forest.

The fossil was uncovered by a team led by Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a PhD student at Mansoura University and research assistant at the American University in Cairo. Al-Ashqar described the moment of discovery as extraordinary, when large teeth protruding from the ground revealed a nearly complete skull.

Named after Bastet, the ancient Egyptian cat-headed goddess, Bastetodon reflects both its feline-like snout and its predator status. A second genus, Sekhmetops, named after the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, was also identified from fossils discovered in the region.

The study reveals that Bastetodon’s relatives spread from Africa to Asia, Europe, and North America, with some becoming the largest carnivorous mammals of their time before climate shifts led to their extinction. Researchers say this find is pivotal for understanding the diversity and migration of ancient predators and plan to continue excavating the Fayum site for further discoveries.