Chainsaw Man‘s popularity is growing worldwide as one of the most popular new-gen shōnen anime, reaping success with its manga and the recent film Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc, which has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year. However, according to a recent report, Chainsaw Man‘s influence has now extended beyond pop culture to scientific fields.
As Tatsuki Fujimoto’s story continues to evolve in ways unimaginable to fans, it has not only impacted anime, but even researchers have been influenced by the series. A beloved character from Chainsaw Man has gone from being a fictional creature to lending his name to a newly discovered real species.
A Recently Discovered Fossil Shark Species Is Named After Chainsaw Man’s Pochita
As reported by CIAH Atacama, fossils were recently discovered in Bahía Inglesa, in Chile’s Atacama region. The study, published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology, revealed that the fossilized teeth allowed for the identification of a new extinct species of deep-sea sawshark, known for its long snout with sharp, chainsaw-like teeth, whose appearance was reconstructed by paleoartist @carlost_sapiens.
For this similarity, the extinct sawshark was named Pochitaserra Patriciacanale as an homage to Pochita from Chainsaw Man (as serra is the Latin word for saw) and as a posthumous tribute to the Chilean paleontologist Dr. Patricia Canales. The study’s co-author, Dr. Martín Chávez, spoke about the importance of scientific names being descriptive and easy to remember for the public.
“It’s no secret that scientists tend to be a bit of geeks, and we saw this as an excellent opportunity to create a name that is easy to remember and that will inspire new generations.” – Dr. Martín Chávez.
Chávez stated that Pochitaserra Patriciacanale is a nod to geek culture so that new generations can recall the name and find inspiration. Pochita is the chainsaw devil with an appearance and size similar to a dog and whose endearing relationship with Denji has made him a favorite, now delighting fans who celebrate that his name has transcended beyond the anime.
Chainsaw Man Joins Other Influential Anime That Have Left Their Mark on History
Pochita is one of Chainsaw Man‘s most important characters, and since it’s hinted he is a devil who has existed for centuries, it makes him the perfect fictional character to mirror a prehistoric species. Pochita will live on in history books, joining other beloved anime characters such as Ranma from Ranma 1/2, whose name inspired a crustacean discovered in 2024.
Several species have also been named in honor of popular Pokémon, which demonstrates the growing relevance of anime and manga in the most unthinkable areas. Nevertheless, Chainsaw Man is forging its legacy not only as an anime beloved by fans but also as a source of inspiration for specialists around the world.
- Created by
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Tatsuki Fujimoto
- First Episode Air Date
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October 12, 2022
- Cast
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Kikunosuke Toya, Tomori Kusunoki, Shôgo Sakata, Ai Fairouz, Mariya Ise, Kenjiro Tsuda, Shiori Izawa, Reina Ueda
Chainsaw Man is a dark fantasy manga created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. The series follows Denji, a young man who merges with his devil-dog Pochita to become Chainsaw Man. He joins the Public Safety Devil Hunters to fight devils threatening Japan. The series explores themes of violence, power, and survival. Since its debut in 2018, Chainsaw Man has gained immense popularity, leading to a critically acclaimed anime adaptation.
