Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Largest whale skeleton found at Siwa oasis

Al Masry Al Youm


With photos. It looks as though these remains date to the same period (and were therefore probably part of the same coastline) as the Faiyum remains of whale, shark and mangrove in the Wadi el-Hitan (Valley of Whales).

The Environment Ministry announced on Monday that it had discovered the largest whale skeleton in the world, dating back 37 million years. The skeleton was found in the area of Siwa Oasis, which became a natural protectorate in 2002.

According to a statement from the Environment Ministry, the Egyptian Fossil Exploration Team found the skeleton during a collaboration with the University of Michigan that lead to the discovery of several important fossils.

The ministry also announced that 150 new palaeontological sites have recently been registered as excavation sites. Among the specimens contained in the sites are three different types of marine species, namely whales, dugongs, and giant sea turtles, as well as water snakes, and shark teeth.

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