Pronunciation: KO-lek-en
Meaning: Coming from clay and water
Author/s: Pol et al. (2024)
Synonyms: None known
First Discovery: Chubut Province, Argentina
Discovery Chart Position: #1129
Koleken inakayali
(Coming from clay and water, in honour of Inakayal)Etymology
Koleken is derived from "Kóleken", a name in Teushen language spoken by the native population of central Patagonia that means "coming from clay and water", in reference to its discovery in an area dominated by claystone and representing an estuary environment. The species epithet, inakayali, honours Inakayal, one of the last chiefs of the Tehuelches people from central Patagonia. He is known for his resistance against Argentina's Conquest of the Desert military campaign, which resulted in the decimation and displacement of native communities from Patagonia. After his capture and eventual death in 1888, Inakayal's skeleton was stored in the La Plata Museum Anthropology collection until 1994, when his bones were respectfully laid to rest in their native place and buried by his people near the town of Tecka in central Patagonia (Chubut Province, Argentina). ZooBank registry: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E384B7B-6731-40DF-B65B-035AD7DB753B. The remains of Koleken were discovered in the La Colonia Formation at Cerro Bayo Norte, east of the Sierra de La Colonia, Chubut Province, Argentina, by José Patricio O'Gorman in 2015.
The holotype (MPEF-PV 10826) includes a partial skull and atlas (the first bone of the neck—named for the Greek god Atlas who bore the weight of the heavens, almost always depicted as a globe—which supports the head), eight back vertebrae, a complete block of hip vertebrae known as the sacrum, eight tail vertebrae, an almost complete pelvis and parts of both legs.
Preparators
Mariano Caffa and Ariel Aresti of the Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio.
