•1 min read•from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily
New fossils in Qatar reveal a tiny sea cow hidden for 21 million years
Our take
Recent discoveries in Qatar have unveiled a newly identified species of sea cow that thrived in the Arabian Gulf over 21 million years ago. This site features the densest collection of fossilized sea cow bones known to date, highlighting the historical richness of seagrass meadows that once supported these marine mammals. Similar to modern dugongs, these ancient sea cows played a significant role in shaping their environment.
Fossils from Qatar have revealed a small, newly identified sea cow species that lived in the Arabian Gulf more than 20 million years ago. The site contains the densest known collection of fossil sea cow bones, showing that these animals once thrived in rich seagrass meadows. Their ecological role mirrors that of modern dugongs, which still reshape the Gulf’s seafloor as they graze. The findings may help researchers understand how seagrass ecosystems respond to long-term environmental change.
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