Dr. Hesham Sallam, founder of Sallam Lab for Vertebrate Paleontology at Mansoura University, has announced a series of new scientific discoveries in Egypt’s Eastern Desert that shed light on the early origins of modern fish species still inhabiting seas and oceans today. The findings also provide important evidence for understanding how life evolved after the dinosaurs' extinction.
Speaking during an appearance on the television program Egypt Can hosted by veteran TV presenter Ahmed Fayek on DMC, Dr. Sallam explained that his research team at Sallam Lab, in collaboration with National Geographic, successfully documented new vertebrate fossil genera and species at promising fossil sites in the Eastern Desert.
He noted that extensive field surveys and scientific studies have revealed fossil-rich areas dating back to the period immediately following the dinosaurs' extinction. These sites offer valuable scientific material for understanding the environmental and biological transformations that shaped Earth during that era.
According to Dr. Sallam, the discoveries provide tangible evidence of the earliest stages in the emergence of many modern fish groups, including tuna, mackerel, sunfish, and seahorses. He explained that these species began to diversify and spread after marine ecosystems recovered from the mass extinction event that brought the age of dinosaurs to an end.
He added that severe climate shifts and rising global temperatures in the aftermath of that historic event led to the disappearance of many large marine predators, creating ecological opportunities for new groups of organisms to evolve and flourish.
Dr. Sallam emphasized that the significance of these discoveries extends beyond identifying new fossil species. They also help scientists reconstruct a more accurate picture of the environmental changes that occurred millions of years ago.
He explained that studying these fossils allows researchers to trace evolutionary pathways and better understand how ecosystems recover following major extinction events that dramatically reshape life on Earth.
Dr. Sallam also highlighted Egypt’s growing prominence on the global paleontological research map, thanks to its unique geological sites and rich natural record documenting different stages of life’s history.
He added that the research efforts led by the Sallam Lab are strengthening Egypt’s international scientific presence and providing valuable data to researchers worldwide studying the evolution of living organisms across geological ages.
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment