Nearly complete skull of 30-million-year-old apex predator found in Egypt

Bastetodon syrtos, a 30-million-year-old prehistoric carnivore from Egypt's Fayum Depression. (@heshamsallam/X)

Scientists have discovered a nearly complete skull of Bastetodon syrtos, a fierce prehistoric carnivore, in Egypt’s Fayum Depression. Dating back 30 million years, the find reshapes understanding of ancient African predators and their extinction before modern carnivores appeared.

A leopard-sized hunter from Egypt’s ancient forests
The Bastetodon was a leopard-sized predator with sharp teeth and strong jaw muscles, giving it a powerful bite. It dominated its ecosystem, preying on early primates, hippos, elephants, and hyraxes. During this era, Egypt’s Fayum region was a lush forest, now replaced by desert.

#Bastetodon #SallamLab #MUVP pic.twitter.com/hAtGTlnlJL
Hesham Sallam (@heshamsallam) February 17, 2025

Published in the Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, the study highlights the predator’s role at the top of the food chain. While our monkey-like ancestors evolved, Bastetodon thrived as an apex predator.

A rare fossil from a shifting climate
Palaeontologist Shorouq Al-Ashqar, leading the study, described the team’s patience during excavation. “For days, we carefully removed rock layers, each holding millions of years of history,” she said.

#Spinosaurus skull vs. #Bastetodon skull, with @ShorouqAlashqar for scale. #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt pic.twitter.com/yGjVseVw9G Hesham Sallam (@heshamsallam) February 18, 2025

Their breakthrough came just as work neared its end. “One team member spotted large teeth poking from the ground. His excitement brought us together, leading to this rare discovery — a nearly complete skull of a prehistoric apex predator.”

The discovery comes from a time when Earth’s climate shifted from warm to cool, impacting ecosystems and driving many species to extinction.

Revealing Africa’s long-lost carnivores
Bastetodon belonged to a now-extinct group of carnivores called hyaenodonts. These predators roamed African ecosystems long before today’s cats, dogs, and hyenas emerged. Known for their hyena-like teeth, hyaenodonts were skilled hunters that thrived after dinosaurs vanished.

This fossil not only adds to Egypt’s palaeontological legacy but also helps scientists better understand how ancient predators adapted to climate change — and why they eventually disappeared.