Submitted by Sean Williams on Fri, 11/20/2009 - 15:06
A top paleontologist has discovered the remains of five ancient crocodile species in the Sahara desert. Paul Sereno, National Geographic's resident expert in the field, has dubbed the suite of SuperCrocs after the characteristics they share with other modern animals. The group, found on a windswept stretch of rock and dunes, are proof of an obscure era when the crocs roamed the southern land mass of Gondwana, some 100 million years ago.
The most spectacular of the five is SuperCroc itself, weighing in at a whopping 8 tons, and measuring over 40 feet. Four of the five had 'upright' legs which stretched out below them, rather than those of today's species which come out from the side. The list includes such oddities as DuckCroc and the flat-faced PancakeCroc.
The Temple of Sobek and Haroeris in Kom Ombo (Kom Ombo Temple) is located on the bank of the Nile between Edfu and Aswan and was once key crossroads between the caravan route from Nubia and trails from the gold mines in the eastern desert. During the reign of Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145 BC), it also served as a training ground for African war elephants, which were used in battle with the pachyderms of the Seleucid empire.
Roger Michael Kean has authored and/or edited a swathe of Thalamus titles, including books on Roman emperors and the Ottomans, so it’s fair to describe him as a history specialist. His publisher, Thalamus, has also carved a niche for itself: it produces high-quality history books that use exceptional photography and specially commissioned maps. It prides itself on accuracy, on being informative, on being educative without being boring.
Exploring Ancient Egypt ticks all those boxes. It’s not by any means an advanced text, but one aimed at armchair travellers, students and those wanting an accessible introduction to what can be a complex and confusing field.
A top paleontologist has discovered the remains of five ancient crocodile species in the Sahara desert. Paul Sereno, National Geographic's resident expert in the field, has dubbed the suite of SuperCrocs after the characteristics they share with other modern animals. The group, found on a windswept stretch of rock and dunes, are proof of an obscure era when the crocs roamed the southern land mass of Gondwana, some 100 million years ago.
