Pliny the Elder writes that , in his time , the best place in Egypt for finding this animal was in the Saite nome . The animal could still be found around there after the Arab Conquest in 639 . Pliny the Elder writes that , in his time , the best location in Egypt for capturing this animal was in the Saite nome ; the animal could still be found along the Damietta branch after the Arab Conquest in 639 .