An Ancient Sea Discovered in the Qatari Desert: A New Species of Sea Cow Unveiled.

According to ТСН: In the Qatari desert, scientists have uncovered a large animal graveyard. A team from the Smithsonian Institution and Qatar Museums has completed a detailed study in the Al-Mazhabiah area.

New Animal Species

Among the numerous finds, scientists discovered a new species — Salwasiren qatarenis, named after Qatar. This animal resembles modern dugongs but has differences in the structure of its hind limb bones, a straighter snout, and shorter tusks — traits that vanished in modern sea cows over millions of years of evolution.

Ancient Ecosystem

Fossils from Al-Mazhabiah indicate that early Miocene sea cows grazed in fields covered with dense seagrass and shaped the seafloor as modern dugongs do. Among the finds were also fossils of sharks, fish, dolphins, and turtles, confirming that this area, now a dry desert, was once a shallow sea with a rich ecosystem.

Importance of the Study

Farhan Sakala from the Qatar Museum noted that regional rocks preserve vital data about ancient ecosystems. This information can help understand how seagrasses responded to climate changes.

“If we can learn from past records how seagrass communities survived climate stress or other major disruptions, we could set goals for a better future for the Persian Gulf,” said Sakala.

This discovery is significant evidence of how Qatar's ecosystem has changed over millions of years and may hint at how to adapt to the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Studying ancient life forms will help modern science better understand trends in nature and opportunities for marine conservation.