Scientists have discovered the 43-million-year-old four-legged whale species Phiomicetus anubis in Egypt.
Fossils of the species were originally discovered in the western desert of Egypt. The skull of the animal is reminiscent of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian jackal god, in whose name it is also named.
The ancestors of modern whales evolved from deer-like mammals that lived on earth for about 10 million years. It is estimated that they weighed about 600 kilograms and reached three meters in length.
Four-legged whales had very strong jaws for prey. Thanks to the fact that they also had legs, they were able to move both on land and in water.
The partial skeleton was found in the Faiyum oasis and analyzed by scientists at Mansiur University. Although the area is now a desert, it used to be a sea, so the soil is rich in fossils.
Although Phiomicetus anubis is not the first whale species to be found, it is considered to be the first partial whale to be found in Africa.
It is believed that the first whales evolved in Transylvania about 50 million years ago. In 2011, paleontologists discovered 43 million ancient whale fossils that also had legs, fins and horseshoes.
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