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Ancient shark graveyard discovered in Egypt reveals 5 extinct species from dinosaur era
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers discovered a shark graveyard in Egypt's southwestern desert within phosphate beds of the Late Cretaceous Duwi Formation, revealing a former tropical marine environment.
- Five extinct lamniform shark species were identified, including Cretalamna cf. C. maroccana and Squalicorax pristodontus, marking the first fossil records of these species in Egypt and Africa.
- A total of 14 fossilized shark teeth were found, providing valuable insight into marine vertebrate life during the Late Cretaceous period.
- During this period, sea levels were significantly higher than today, estimated to be between 320 and 850 feet above current levels.
- Ongoing research aims to enhance understanding of paleodiversity and environmental conditions of the Cretaceous era through further study of these fossils.
