A group of Chilean scientists identified a new species of fossil shark in the Atacama region, named Pochitaserra patriciacanalae. The find combines science and popular culture, since the name pays tribute to both the paleontologist Patricia Canales like the character Pochita from manga and anime Chainsaw Man.
The discovery, published in the British magazine Papers in Palaeontologydescribes a late Miocene sawshark (more than 5 million years) found in the sediments of the English Bay Formationin the commune of Caldera. Nine tiny teeth—less than a centimeter—were enough to define this new genus and extinct species.
A tribute between science and culture
The researcher Martin Chavezscientific director of CIAHN Atacama and co-author of the study, explained that the shape of the shark's snout, similar to a chainsawinspired the name. “Scientific names can and should be memorable. If they also connect with current culture, they help bring science closer to new generations,” he stated.
The team analyzed more than 300 kilograms of sediment and managed to identify 241 dental microfossils of sharks and rays, including a new species of ray called Dasyatis manuelcampposidedicated to a fisherman from Maule.
A key discovery for Chilean paleontology
According to the authors, the English Bay Formation It consolidates itself as one of the most important paleontological sites in South America, revealing a diverse marine fauna that includes still existing species such as the basking shark and the leopard shark. For researchers, Pochitaserra patriciacanalae expands knowledge about marine evolution in the South Pacific and demonstrates how science can be linked to contemporary culture, including the world of anime.
What do you think about *Chainsaw Man* inspiring scientific names in real discoveries?
