STORY: Researchers in Colombia have unveiled a fossil of a turtle that lived 13 million years ago in the Tatacoa Desert, naming the newly identified species Shakiremys colombiana in honour of Colombian singer and superstar Shakira.

The fossil, discovered by local farmers in Huila and later analysed by scientists, includes a complete skull and shell that reveal unique evolutionary traits.

According to Andres Felipe Vanegas, director of the Tatacoa Museum, the turtle’s shell shows a distinctive morphology adapted to different water currents, while CT scans of the skull revealed details of its brain and inner ear.

The fossil was found in La Victoria, one of the world’s largest paleontological sites, offering a glimpse into life during the Miocene epoch when the region was a network of lakes and rivers.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TATACOA DESERT, HUILA, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 21, 2025) (RCN - No use: Colombia / CNN Spanish / Univision / Telemundo / City TV Colombia)

1. FOSSIL OF “SHAKIREMYS COLOMBIANA” TURTLE ON LABORATORY TABLE, NAMED AFTER THE COLOMBIAN STAR SHAKIRA

2. PALEONTOLOGIST AND MUSEUM DIRECTOR, ANDRES FELIPE VANEGAS, LOOKING AT FOSSIL ON LABORATORY TABLE

3. VARIOUS OF VANEGAS POINTING AT FOSSIL

4. TURTLE FOSSIL

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PALEONTOLOGIST AND MUSEUM DIRECTOR, ANDRES FELIPE VANEGAS, SAYING:

"We detected that this turtle's shell has a very special morphology to adapt to any type of current. We also found its skull, and we were able to do a CT scan, where we could observe part of its brain and ears, which allowed us to learn that it has a mosaic of unique characteristics within that group of turtles."

6. VARIOUS OF VANEGAS IN LABORATORY

7. VARIOUS OF TURTLE FOSSIL IN LABORATORY

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PALEONTOLOGIST AND MUSEUM DIRECTOR, ANDRES FELIPE VANEGAS, SAYING:

"He decided to call this turtle's genus Shakiremys because, first, he's a Shakira fan, and second, Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter with great international recognition who has also supported many educational causes with her Pies Descalzos foundation. So just like Shakira is very special, this turtle is also very special."

9. ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM OF THE TATACOA DESERT

10. REPRODUCTION OF A CROCODILE SPECIES INSIDE THE MUSEUM

TATACOA DESERT, HUILA, COLOMBIA (FILE - OCTOBER 14, 2023) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

11. DRONE SHOT OF THE DESERT OF TATACOA