India, Feb. 19 -- A groundbreaking discovery in Egypt's Fayum Desert has unveiled a new species of an ancient carnivorous mammal that once ruled prehistoric ecosystems. Named Bastetodon, this predator belonged to the now-extinct group Hyaenodonta, a lineage of formidable hunters that thrived millions of years before modern carnivores such as lions, wolves, and hyenas appeared.

The discovery-a nearly complete skull-sheds fresh light on Africa's ancient food chain and offers a glimpse into a world where early primates coexisted with fearsome predators.

(Also read: '9-foot-long, 88 legs': Scientists recreate head of ancient monster bug, largest to ever live)

According to research, Bastetodon, roughly the size of a leopard, was a dominant ...