Colombian artist Shakira was honored by the scientific world after a team of paleontologists identified a new species of prehistoric turtle and decided to name it after Shakira, marking a peculiar union between pop culture and paleontology. According to the Argentine News Agency, the species, named Shakiremys colombiana, was discovered in the La Tatacoa desert, one of Colombia's main fossil sites. The research was carried out by specialists from the University of Rosario, who determined that the specimen belongs to the Middle Miocene, with an estimated age of 13 million years. The remains found were extraordinary due to their level of preservation: they include a complete skull and two articulated shells, something uncommon in the region and which makes the fossil a unique piece for the study of the Podocnemididae family. The team consisted of four paleontologists and a student, in collaboration with the La Tatacoa Museum. Among the most striking features are: eyes oriented upwards, suggesting it lived at the bottom of bodies of water; a U-shaped notch in the shell near the neck, which gave it greater mobility; great adaptability, able to inhabit lakes, rivers, and different aquatic environments; an omnivorous diet, based on both plants and small animals; its size was relatively small: the shell did not exceed 40 centimeters. Paleontologist Edwin Cadena, who led the research, explained that this ecological flexibility would have allowed it to coexist with other turtle species of the time in the La Tatacoa ecosystem. The reason for the name in honor of Shakira The species' name combines the artist's last name with the Greek term emys, which is used to designate freshwater turtles. The scientists chose to pay tribute not only for her cultural connection to Colombia, but also because, as they told, her music accompanied them during long field days. In addition, they found poetic parallels between paleontology and some of Shakira's lyrics, especially those that speak of origins and evolution. Before announcing it, the researchers contacted the singer, who gave her approval to use her name. Cadena noted that resorting to recognized figures helps to connect science with the general public and to awaken interest in topics that are usually distant. This new species allows for a better understanding of the evolution of the turtles that live today in the great rivers of the region, the Amazon, Orinoco, and Magdalena, and strengthens the scientific value of the La Tatacoa desert as one of the most important paleontological sites on the continent. Currently, the fossil of Shakiremys colombiana is exhibited at the La Tatacoa Natural History Museum, in La Victoria, Huila, where it quickly became one of the most visited pieces. As they explained, the process of excavation, preparation, and analysis took more than two years. Anatomical features and way of life The researchers managed to reconstruct the turtle's shape and characteristics thanks to tomographic studies.
