Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

New Extinct Crocodilian Species Identified from Sphinx Quarry

A fossil skull found in the limestone used to build the Great Sphinx of Giza has been identified as a previously unknown species of gavial, a long-snouted crocodilian.

Researchers reclassified the fossil, originally found in the 45-million-year-old Mokattam Formation near Cairo, using modern techniques like micro-CT scanning. Previously thought to be an extinct species of the Tomistoma genus, the skull is now recognized as a new genus and species, Herugavialis cairensis.

The new classification corrects an earlier misidentification and provides insight into the ancient fauna of Egypt. The fossil's association with the Sphinx extends beyond its origin, as both the skull and the statue are missing the tips of their noses.

The discovery highlights the rich crocodilian diversity in the Mediterranean region over the last 50 million years, with H. cairensis likely sharing its habitat with at least two other gavial species. Today, only two gavial species survive, both endangered.

This finding helps to better understand the ancient predators of the region and expands the known variety of long-snouted crocodilians from ancient times.

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