Scientists name ancient shark fossil after chainsaw man

Chilean scientists discover and name new fossils of an ancient sawshark species Chatselmanof pochita.

one study Published in authoritative Paleontology Paper The scientific journal of the Society of Paleontology has revealed the fossils of a variety of sharks and rays from the Bahia Inglesa Formation in Chile’s Atacama region.

The area has complex geological structures and is known for its rich fossil deposits and is home to the best-preserved Cenozoic marine vertebrate fauna (biological fossils) in the world.

A research team led by Dr. Jaime Villafaña of the Catholic Conception University discovered 241 fossils corresponding to 19 species of cartilaginous fish dating back 7 million years. The findings include an unnamed shark species with teeth so unique that it requires a new unique genus name: Meet Pochitaserra Patriciacanalae.

Prehistoric Pochita

Pochitaserra combines the Latin words serra (Saw) with the character Pochita from the Tatsuki Fujimoto manga series chainsaw man. Pochta is a cute, dog-like demon with a chainsaw on its forehead that closely resembles the anatomy of a Sawshark, whose snout extends into a toothed chainsaw-like structure.

“It’s no secret that scientists tend to be a bit of a geek, and we saw this as an opportunity to create an easy-to-remember name that would inspire a new generation,” said study co-author Martín Chávez-Hoffmeister, scientific director of the regional nonprofit Paleontology Corporation. Sian Atacama.

Pochitaserra Patriciacanalae also honors Chilean paleontologist Dr. Patricia Canales, who is remembered for her research on marine fossils and the discovery of Ice Age fossils at several archaeological sites, including Pilauco Bajo in the city of Osorno.

chainsaw man is one of them best selling comics By 2024, sales will exceed 800,000 copies. this Chainsaw Man: Razor Arc MovieThe box office revenue of movies released in 2025 exceeded 54 billion yen in just 24 days. The paleontological community’s allusion to Pochita is an interesting intersection of science and pop culture, and a testament to the profound influence of anime and comics across the globe.

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