Science pays tribute to Dibu Martínez: a prehistoric find will bear his name

the goalkeeper of the argentinian team Emiliano “Dibu” Martinezchampion in the World Cup in Qatar 2022, received a particular tribute from a group of paleontologists, since decide to name a prehistoric species discovered in Mendoza after him.

It is a new species escuerzo fossil who was baptized Lepidobatrachus dibumartinez by Argentine scientists Guillermo Fidel Turazzini and Raúl Orencio Gómez, members of the Laboratory of Evolutionary Morphology and Vertebrate Paleobiology of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).

“On December 20, 2022, in the middle of the World Cup celebration, we sent our manuscript, and on May 30, 2023 finally it was published in the description Vertebrate Paleontology Journal our most recent work, a new fossil species of escuerzo“, the experts pointed out when announcing the novelty.

In their social networks, Turazzini and Gómez explained that deciding to make “a heartfelt tribute to the Soccer Team, but especially to the archer who defended the Argentine fence over and over again” and highlighted that the current member of Aston Villa in England made them “scream, laugh and cry with each of their explosions”.

Dibu Martínez achieved a historical record with Aston Villa

The thanks of the scientists to ‘Dibu’ Martínez

“Thank you, Dibu Martínez, for the joy that you have given us to all the Argentine people”say the paleontologists, who highlight the “continuous support” of the UBA and CONICET, as well as detailing that they will have the support of a scholarship from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Research.

The fossil remains of the Lepidobatrachus dibumartinez They were found in the area of ​​Huayquerías del Este, 100 kilometers south of the city of Mendoza: the scientists indicated that this prehistoric scene changed in the Early Pliocene, that is, approximately 5 million years ago.

AC/ED