A new fossil fish species discovered in Panama has been named in honor of Brígida De Gracia, a Ngäbe research technician recognized as the world’s first Ngäbe marine paleontologist. Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute identified the species after analyzing thousands of ancient fish ear stones recovered from late Miocene sediments. The find is part of a larger study revealing an unexpectedly rich Caribbean ecosystem that existed approximately seven million years ago.
The research team, led by Chien-Hsiang Lin and paleobiologist Aaron O’Dea, examined more than 6,200 fossilized otolith specimens. These tiny, dense structures found in a fish’s inner ear fossilize much more readily than delicate bones. Their investigation of the Chagres Formation in Colón Province identified 31 distinct species from 12 fish families, including four species completely new to science.
Honoring a Scientific and Cultural Legacy
Among the new species is Hoplostethus boyae, a deep-sea fish belonging to the Trachichthyidae family, commonly known as slimeheads. The species name “boyae” uses De Gracia’s traditional Ngäbe name, Boya, as a tribute to her career and the cultural legacy of her community. De Gracia has played a crucial role in numerous paleontological discoveries in Panama, meticulously preparing and cataloging specimens.
“Having this species named in my honor brings me immense joy and excitement, for myself, my family, and my friends,” De Gracia said. [Translated from Spanish]
She received a framed scientific illustration of Hoplostethus boyae from colleagues in the O’Dea lab. The gesture acknowledges her years of dedicated work supporting the institute’s research into the region’s deep history. This particular fish, a relative of the modern orange roughy, may have lived for up to 200 years in the highly productive ancient Caribbean waters.
A Window into an Ancient Productive Sea
Published in the journal PeerJ, the study also describes three other new species: Chiloconger aflorens, Dasyscopelus inopinatus, and Malakichthys schwarzhansi. Researchers note the Panamanian fossil site contains one of the world’s most abundant Miocene fish assemblages. An overwhelming 96 percent of the specimens belong to the lanternfish family, small deep-sea fish famous for their bioluminescence.
According to the scientists, these fossils paint a picture of an ancient Caribbean Sea teeming with life. Strong upwelling systems likely fertilized the surface waters, supporting a diverse food web. This rich environment sustained everything from tiny fish and eels to sharks and massive predators like the megalodon.
“Chien-Hsiang and I chose the four names together,” explained O’Dea. “We tried to make each one meaningful. Chiloconger aflorens comes from the Spanish word for upwelling, ‘afloramiento,’ because this small eel lived in what we believe was an ancient upwelling system. Dasyscopelus inopinatus means ‘unexpected’ in Latin, a name we chose because it has a mixture of characteristics. Malakichthys schwarzhansi honors Werner Schwarzhans, an ichthyologist and paleontologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark who has done brilliant work on fish otoliths worldwide and laid the groundwork for studies like ours. And, of course, Hoplostethus boyae celebrates Brígida.” [Translated from Spanish]
The research underscores how much remains unknown about marine ecosystems from millions of years ago. Scientists are particularly interested in how these ecosystems evolved in tandem with the geological formation of the Isthmus of Panama. This land bridge permanently altered global ocean currents and sparked a massive exchange of species between North and South America.
Each new fossil discovery adds another piece to the puzzle of this transformative period. The recognition of De Gracia highlights the vital, often unseen, contributions of technical staff and local experts who enable groundbreaking science. This study proves that even the smallest fossils, like otoliths, can tell an enormous story about our planet’s past.