Prehistoric hippo named after Mick Jagger

 

Proving once and for all that scientists not only have great taste in music, but a quirky sense of humor, as well, a prehistoric hippo-like creature has been named after The Rolling Stones’ frontman, Sir Mick Jagger.

The reason? They both share a single, defining physical trait – enormous lips.

 

The recently discovered species, now known as Jaggermeryx naida (meaning "Jagger’s water nymph"), lived in Africa 19 million years ago, during a period known as the Miocene. It belongs to a family of extinct hoofed beasts called Anthracotheriidae, which is related to whales and hippopotamuses.

 

What sets the Jaggermeryx naida apart from other anthracotheres are the eight holes situated on either side of its jaw. These holes held nerves, which gave the animal an extremely sensitive snout and lower lip. This would have made foraging for plant foods found on the riverbanks much easier.

Discovery in Egypt

 

Led by Cairo University ’s Dr. Safiya Hassan, a team of paleontologists from Egypt and the United States discovered a number of the animal’s fossilized jaw fragments in the Egyptian desert’s early Miocene site at Wadi Moghra.

 

From the examination of the fossils, the team believes the beast could have been as large as regular deer. They further described it as a cross between a slender hippo and a long-legged pig.

 

According to further analysis of geological data and the fossils of waterbirds, turtles, catfish, and six anthracothere species including Jaggermeryx naida found at the site, Wadi Moghra was most probably an estuary, complete with swamps and marshes, millions of years ago.

 

“We imagine Jaggermeryx naida’s lifestyle was like that of a water deer, standing in water and foraging for plants along the river bank,” said team member Dr. Ellen Miller of Wake Forest University , who was also lead author of a paper that was published in the Journal of Paleontology.

Angelina Jolie in the running
 

Fans of Angelina Jolie, another superstar known for humongous lips, will be disappointed to know that the animal could have possibly been named “Joliemeryx” naida instead.

 

“Some of my colleagues suggested naming the new species after Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, because she also has famous lips,” Dr. Miller explained. “But for me it had to be Mick.”

 

The fossil of the Jaggermeryx naida now finds its home among other collections in Duke University , the Cairo Geological Museum and Cairo University. — TJD, GMA News