Bacon Bits
The Puijila specimen is affectionately known as Bacon. When in the field, it is a common practice among palaeontologists to give a nick-name to significant specimens—often before they know much about the fossil being unearthed. "Bacon" evoked the team's craving for the meat after weeks in the field, as well as the frequent, inadvertent tendency of one team member to say "BLT" (an abbreviation for a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich) instead of "ATV" (or all-terrain vehicle).
About the Name
Every new fossil species needs a new scientific name. Research scientists take great care in choosing. Often, names are chosen to reflect significant characteristics of the animal, or the location of the discovery.
Scientific names are generally in Latin, and consist of two parts. The first part of the name is the genus. The second part is the species epithet. Together they identify the organism. This combination of two names is unique and is recognized worldwide, unlike common names such as "deer" or "bluebird", which can refer to different animals depending on the province, state or country.
The latest "walking seal" fossil represents such an evolutionary breakthrough that it was classified as a new genus and species, so names for both were needed. The species was named Puijila darwini.
"Puijila" in Inuktitut.
Natalia Rybczynski consulted Jarloo Kiguktak and other Inuit about a suitable name for the new species. Mr. Kiguktak is a former mayor of the nearest permanent settlement, Grise Fiord. Here, they are looking at Puijila's braincase in the kitchen/work tent.
The genus Puijila is based on an Inuktitut word that means "young sea mammal" and commonly refers to a seal. Inuktitut is spoken in Nunavut, Canada, where the fossil was found. The genus name recognizes the people of Nunavut, whose valued support is critical to the success of research in the Canadian High Arctic. The name was selected in consultation with the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Katimajiit, a council with expertise on Inuit knowledge that provides advice to the Government of Nunavut. (Puijila sounds like "pea-ooh-yee-la").
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Charles Darwin, a year or so after the publication of On the Origin of Species.
The species epithet, darwini, honours Charles Darwin. The name was selected with great admiration for the evolutionary insight of Charles Darwin, who predicted this transitional animal in his monumental book about evolution, On the Origin of Species:
"A strictly terrestrial animal, by occasionally hunting for food in shallow water, then in streams or lakes, might at last be converted into an animal so thoroughly aquatic as to brave the open ocean".
The species identification of Puijila darwini was published in 2009, which is also the bicentennial anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of the Species. (Darwini sounds like "dar-win-eye").
