Qatar Unearths Lost Ancient Sea Cow Species, Reveals Deep Evolutionary Link

• Scientists discovered a previously unknown ancient sea cow species near Qatar's shallow coastal waters, dating back millions of years.
• The fossilized remains, found during geological fieldwork, show remarkable similarity to modern dugongs, suggesting minimal evolutionary change over millennia.
• The discovery confirms the existence of ancient seagrass ecosystems in Arabian waters, vital for these herbivorous marine mammals.
• Detailed bone comparisons identified it as a new species, highlighting how evolution can 'pause' in stable environments.
• The find serves as a conservation lesson, linking the survival of ancient sea cows to the protection of today's threatened dugongs and their seagrass habitats.

Why It Matters: Discovery of an ancient sea cow in Qatar reveals deep evolutionary stability and vital conservation lessons.