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a cartoon of homer simpson sniffing something with his mouth open

We addressed two aspects of cetacean evolution: their acquisition of a relatively big brain and the evolution of their sense of smell. As other mammals secondarily adapted to the aquatic environment, cetaceans have been assumed to reduce their sense of smell (which is air-born in this group).

media.tenor.com

ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson sniffing something with his mouth open

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Comparing the relative volume of the brain endocast, we found that this early whale was quite brainy, which is a surprise, as the first cetaceans with big brains were so far understood to be the fully aquatic basilosaurids.

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We ct-scanned the skull of Protocetus atavus, an amphibious cetacean coming from the Mokattam Formation in Egypt. The inner anatomy of the skull was reconstructed, and we were able to reconstruct the brain imprint (endocast) as well as the different components of the nasal cavity.

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Fossil brain 🧠🧟 of a 45-million-year-old cetacean! We are proud to publish‪ @journal-evo.bsky.social l the result of Elena Berger’s Bachelor’s thesis @smnstuttgart.bsky.social. Thread 👇 ‬

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Thanks @eliamson.bsky.social for including us in such amazing work!

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

This summer, we are training young scientists in fossil digitisation.

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muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

جانب من فعاليات سيمينار التقدم لدرجة الدكتوراة للطالبة شروق الأشقر بحضور قامات التخصص بقسم الجيولوجيا جامعة المنصورة ❤️ #سلام_لاب #SallamLab #MUVP

muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Reposted by Hesham Sallam

مركز جامعة المنصورة للحفريات الفقارية النهاردة. صنع في مصر💪 #سلام_لاب

Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

First uploading of a photo of Wadi Hitan from Wadi Hitan, Egypt 🤷‍♂️❤️

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muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

رقمنة الحفريات داخل مركز جامعة المنصورة للحفريات الفقارية مشروع قومي مهم للحفاظ على التراث الطبيعي المصري.

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muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

بداية توافد طلاب التدريب للمركز. رهف اشرف -اولي اعدادي

muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Reposted by Hesham Sallam

Picking microfossils!

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muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

auctoday.com/2025/05/29/n... An article on petrified wood at the American University in Cairo, featuring Professor Hesham Sallam, founder of the Mansoura University Center for Vertebrate Paleontology.

auctoday.com

Natural Beauty - AUCToday

Dating back millennia, the petrified wood at AUC New Cairo is more than pretty — it’s prehistoric.

muvp-eg.bsky.social @muvp-eg.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Reposted by Hesham Sallam

Muvp Activity

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Kerunia cornuta is a hydrozoan fossil that lived in Wadi Hitan of Egypt 40 million years ago. From this view, its shape resembles the ankh, the famous symbol of life in ancient Egyptian times.

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

In this place, we do high-quality research, train young scientists, reach out to the public, digitize Egyptian fossils, explore new discoveries, and much more.

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Finally met the original fossil of #Aegyptopithecus — the ancient primate that lived in Egypt 30 million years ago. A true ancestor moment!

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

#SallamLab supports young Egyptian women in becoming leaders in science by engaging them in practical paleontological research, field expeditions, and educational experiences.

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

A field workshop by #SallamLab on how to handle exposed fossils — empowering young Egyptian explorers and training the next generation of paleontologists!

Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Good morning from Fayum Desert, Egypt ❤️ #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Differential Weathering and Erosion in the Western Desert of Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

A 40-million-year-old whale skull and its mandibles sticking out of a cliff. #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Aegyptopithecus (Right), an early primate, and Bastetodon (left), its likely predator. They coexisted in Egypt 30 million years ago, shaping a dynamic ecosystem. #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Some Sharp and Pointed Teeth of Ancient Whales! #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

This handful of sediment from Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt, isn’t just sand—it holds the remains of ancient marine life, including sea urchins, shells, sharks, crabs, and nummulites, telling the story of a long-lost ocean.

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Our recent research received extensive media coverage. The article ranked 13th in Altmetric Attention and 6th in Taylor & Francis publications for 2025. @shorouqalashqar.bsky.social @matt-borths.bsky.social #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Robert Carroll Award – Nominations Open - For outstanding early-career researchers in vertebrate paleontology. If you know a deserving candidate, consider submitting a nomination! Nomination Deadline: April 1, 2025 vertpaleo.org/robert-lynn-...

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

During the COVID days, when we found the #Bastetodon, I was so excited that I took it home to work on it and figure out what it was ❤️ #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Our new discovery, led by @shorouqalashqar.bsky.social , has unveiled a new 30-million-year-old species of apex predator, #Bastetodon, in Egypt’s Fayum Desert! Check out the study in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. @matt-borths.bsky.social @erikseiffert.bsky.social #SallamLab #MUVP

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Lene Liebe Delsett @leneliebedelsett.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Thank you @gohar.bsky.social for a very nice invited talk on whale evolution for our group in Oslo yesterday!🐳🐋🐬

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Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Adam (10 years old) proudly showing his dinosaur notebook, filled with his passion and curiosity for the amazing world of dinosaurs! #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt

Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Proud to have been part of the judging panel for the UK Alumni Awards 2024, evaluating inspiring examples of success. www.britishcouncil.org.eg/en/study-in-...

Hesham Sallam @hesham-sallam.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

School break has started, and students have arrived at #SallamLab #MUVP #Egypt