Hesham Sallam, professor of vertebrate paleontology at AUIC and founder of the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center, is the senior author of an international study that led to the discovery of a nearly complete skull in the Egyptian desert. This finding has resulted in the groundbreaking revelation of a new 30-million-year-old species of the ancient apex predatory carnivore, Hyaenodonta.
The paper, published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, was led by Shorouq Al-Ashqar, from Sallam Lab at AUC and Mansoura University, in collaboration with researchers from Duke, Southern California and Michigan universities. The study details how this ferocious creature likely preyed on primates, early hippos and elephants, and hyraxes in the lush forests of Fayoum, Egypt — now a desert area.
"This timespan ... reveals how these climate shifts played a crucial role in shaping ecosystems that we still see today.”
Describing the discovery, Al-Ashqar said that for days, the team meticulously excavated layers of rock dating back around 30 million years. “Just as they were about to conclude their work, Belal Salem, a team member, spotted something remarkable — a set of large teeth sticking out of the ground," she said. "His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist.”
Sallam explains that the skull was unearthed during his team’s expedition to the Fayoum Depression, where digs reveal an important time window into about 15 million years of the evolutionary history of African mammals. “This timespan not only captures the transition from the Eocene’s global warming to the Oligocene’s global cooling but also reveals how these climate shifts played a crucial role in shaping ecosystems that we still see today.”
Bearing sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, suggesting a strong bite, the newly identified ‘Bastetodon,’ named after the cat-headed ancient Egyptian goddess Bastet, was a leopard-sized “fearsome” mammal. It belongs to a species in an extinct group of carnivorous mammals called hyaenodonts, which evolved long before modern-day carnivores such as cats, dogs and hyenas. These predators with hyena-like teeth hunted in African ecosystems after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
"His excited shout brought the team together, marking the beginning of an extraordinary discovery: a nearly complete skull of an ancient apex carnivore, a dream for any vertebrate paleontologist.”
Beyond just a new ancient creature discovery, the finding of Bastetodon has already allowed the research team to re-evaluate a group of lion-sized hyaenodonts discovered in the rocks of Fayoum over 120 years ago.
In their paper, the team also constructed the genus Sekhmetops to describe this century-old material and to honor Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of wrath and war in ancient Egyptian mythology (“-ops” means “face”). In 1904, Sekhmetops was placed within a European group of hyaenodonts. The team demonstrated that Bastetodon and Sekhmetops both belonged to a group of hyaenodonts that originated in Africa, specifically Egypt. Bastet was often associated with Sekhmet, making the two genera scientifically and symbolically connected.
The study demonstrates the relatives of Bastetodon and Sekhmetops spread from Africa in multiple waves, eventually making it to Asia, Europe, India and North America. Some relatives of these hyaenodonts were among the largest mammalian meat-eaters to ever walk on the planet 18 milllion years ago.
"Paleontologists have been working in Fayoum for over a century, but the Sallam Lab demonstrated that there is more to discover in this remarkable region.”
However, cataclysmic changes in global climate and tectonic changes in Africa opened the continent to the relatives of modern cats, dogs and hyenas. As environments and prey changed, the specialized, carnivorous hyaenodonts diminished in diversity, ultimately becoming extinct and leaving our primate relatives to face a new set of antagonists.
“The discovery of Bastetodon is a significant achievement in understanding the diversity and evolution of hyaenodonts and their global distribution,” Shorouq noted. “We are eager to continue our research to unravel the intricate relationships between these ancient predators and their environments over time and across continents.”
Co-author Matt Borths, curator of Fossils at the Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, said: “ Fayoum is one of the most important fossil areas in Africa. Without it, we would know very little about the origins of African ecosystems and the evolution of African mammals like elephants, primates and hyaenodonts. Paleontologists have been working in Fayoum for over a century, but the Sallam Lab demonstrated that there is more to discover in this remarkable region.”
As major climate issues continue to affect people across Egypt’s diverse regions, Jillian Campana, theater professor and associate dean for undergraduate studies and research, developed a set of plays that reflect these environmental realities. The plays will be performed across AUC’s garden on February 12, 13, 16 and 17, with free entry each night.
Da Zanbokom (It Is Our Fault) consists of five short plays, each set in a different location in Egypt and dealing with a distinct environmental issue affecting the country. Topics range from water scarcity in Aswan and flooding in Alexandria to pollution in the Red Sea and gentrification in Port Said.
Meanwhile, the plays probe the audience to reflect on their role in climate change. “There are small things we can all do every day to help, but most of us don’t take any action because we mistakenly think only major innovations will make a difference,” said Campana.
Campana was inspired to pursue this project because she believes her role as an artist gives her a unique ability to humanize data in a way that regular people can relate to. “While scientists provide crucial data and technological innovations, solving this global challenge requires collaboration across disciplines. Artists, humanists, policymakers, educators, community leaders and activists all play vital roles. Artists, in particular, are able to humanize the data in a way that connects to everyday people,” she said.
“We hope that by watching the performances, audiences will consider their own behaviors and practices and reflect upon ways they can help educate those around them to engage in more sustainable behaviors.”
Over the summer, Campana worked with experts to identify major climate issues that affect people in different regions across Egypt. She then commissioned 10 new plays, five of which will be performed at AUC in the upcoming shows, exploring how these environmental issues impact daily life. The playwrights, including Campana, collaborated with AUC faculty members Anwar ElNaser, Fayrouz Ashour, Ramy Aly and Rania Siam to understand the depth and specificity of these issues and how they impact daily life.
The play is site-specific, meaning that the locations of the plays mirror the settings of the stories. Audiences will gather in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences plaza between 6:30 and 7:00 pm on the nights of the shows. They will be assigned, in small groups, to a specific guide who will walk them to each location and provide details about the stories along the way.
“We hope that by watching the performances, audiences will consider their own behaviors and practices and reflect upon ways they can help educate those around them to engage in more sustainable behaviors,” Campana said. “For the 43 students, many faculty and alumni involved in Da Zambokom it certainly has made an impact already!”
The five plays are:
Last fall, economics junior Ahmed Ayman quickly fell into step with Milan’s unique rhythm of life. “Milan is more than just a city; it’s a mood. Mornings start with a quick espresso, afternoons are spent strolling through streets rich with history, and nights are filled with energy.”
Whether enjoying an enthusiastic football game at the San Siro or having a deep conversation about life in Navigli, Ayman’s experience was nothing short of exceptional.
Ayman spent the Fall 2024 semester studying at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, exploring Italy’s rich history and, of course, indulging in the food.
Thrilled to immerse himself in another culture, Ayman was led across the Mediterranean Sea by his philosophy on learning: “I’ve always believed that real learning happens when you step out of your comfort zone, and what better way to do that than studying abroad?”
Ayman was drawn to study in Italy due to the country’s unique economic positioning as part of the European Union economy. He also wanted to learn from a different academic perspective and interact with international faculty. “I didn’t just want to read about different cultures; I wanted to experience them,” Ayman said. “And let’s face it — who wouldn’t want to spend a semester in Milan?”
“Studying abroad didn’t just teach me about Italy; it taught me about myself."
The Milanese balance between tradition and modernity was what Ayman most loved about the city. “It’s visible in the architecture, the way people dress and even in how they party.”
While abroad, Ayman took every chance to visit other sites in Italy like Lake Como, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre and the Dolomitic Alps — “all nearby yet each offering a different slice of Italy’s magnificence.”
“AUC has this way of making you feel like you’re already part of a global community before you ever set foot outside Egypt."
He also viewed studying abroad as a way to challenge himself and prove that he could thrive in a completely new environment. “I became more independent, learning to navigate everything from public transport mishaps to cultural misunderstandings. I learned the value of spontaneity: My best experiences happened when I ditched the plan and went with the flow,” Ayman said.
Ayman credits the International Programs and Services Office and Office of Student Financial Affairs and Scholarships for securing his trip’s logistics. “They guided me through the application process and ensured I had everything I needed before departure. Even when my experience became stressful (because, let’s be honest, no international process is ever without stress), IPSO had my back,” he shared.
But it was AUC’s global focus that most prepared him for life abroad. “AUC has this way of making you feel like you’re already part of a global community before you ever set foot outside Egypt,” he said. From the diverse student body and discussions about international affairs to an emphasis on critical thinking, Ayman said, “AUC gave me the confidence to adapt quickly in Milan.”
AUC’s liberal arts education was also an asset. “I learned to approach topics from multiple perspectives beyond my major, which helped me navigate courses taught from a completely different angle.” Socially, being a resident adviser and interacting with students from different backgrounds also made it much easier to connect with people in Italy, “even if it sometimes meant throwing in some broken Italian here and there,” he said.
Unexpectedly, being abroad even strengthened Ayman’s love for Egypt. “I became more appreciative of home. There’s something about being away that made me realize the beauty in my own culture too,” he said.
Overall, Ayman’s takeaways were wide-ranging and life-changing. “Studying abroad didn’t just teach me about Italy; it taught me about myself,” he said.
