Fossil of new species of predator called the 'bear dog' found in Europe
June 16, 2022, 2:04 am

Fossil of new species of predator called the 'bear dog' found in Europe

The 'bear dog' would have eaten carrion such as dolphin, as well as hunting large prey. Photo: Denny Navarra/The National

The National news reported that a new species of predator that lived between 7.5 million and 36 million years ago has been found in western Europe.

The "bear dog" was the size of a lion and lived in mountainous regions that are now the Pyrenees.

A jawbone was found in marine deposits between 12 million and 12.8 million years old that were examined in the small community of Sallespisse in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques region of south-western France.

An international team of palaeontologists, led by Dr Bastien Mennecart from the Natural History Museum Basel, concluded that the bone belonged to a group of carnivores known colloquially as “bear dogs”, which weighed about 320 kilograms and could crush bones with their teeth.

The lower jawbone of the bear dog, and its surviving molars, has given clues to what it would eat.

Dr Mennecart told The National the find was "a priceless peace of Earth history" owing to the rare nature of fossil finds in the region.

He said: "Climate changes associated to competition with newcomers may have been at the origin of their extinction.”

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He said it was likely that the bear dogs would have been opportunistic, solitary animals similar to bears today, rather than running in packs like dogs. He said that they would have hunted large prey.

They would have also patrolled the shoreline looking for carrion such as dolphin.

The scientific name for the new species is Tartarocyon. This name comes from Tartaro, a powerful, one-eyed giant from Basque mythology. The legend of Tartaro is also known in Bearn, the region where the lower jawbone was found.

A report on the discovery was published in the journal PeerJ.

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The scientists behind the report, Floreal Sole, Jean-Francois Lesport and Antoine Heitz, said that discoveries of "fossilised terrestrial vertebrates that lived on the northern edge of the Pyrenees 13 million to 11 million years ago are very rare".

They said: "The discovery and description of the lower jaw is even more significant. That is because it offers the opportunity to explore the development of European 'bear dogs' against the background of known environmental events at this time.”

Source: thenational

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.