Scientists from Egypt say they have identified the fossil of a four-legged prehistoric whale. The fossil was unearthed over a decade ago in the Western Desert of Egypt and was an unknown species until now. The species is an ancestor of the modern-day whale and is believed to have lived 43 million years ago.
The team-leading paleontologist says the prehistoric whale could live in both land and sea, equipped with features of a well-rounded hunter. The paleontologist Hesham Sallam told The Associated Press, its features are very unique compared to other whale fossils. The fossil was first dug up in 2008 but was only confirmed as a new species last month.
Sallam explained his team did not start studying the fossil until 2017 because he wanted the most talented Egyptian paleontologists for the study. The fossil helps scientists understand the evolution of whales from herbivore land mammals into carnivorous species that live exclusively in water.
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