DILI, 12 December 2025 (TATOLI) – The Timor-Leste Institute of Geosciences (IGTL), in collaboration with the Oceans Institute at The University of Western Australia, has announced the discovery of two new fossils named Pualacana xananai and Pualacana hortai.
The discovery emerged from geological studies conducted in Pualaca, Manatuto municipality – one of the municipalities of Timor-Leste, located in the central part of the country, between 2022 and 2023.
IGTL President Job Brites explained that the research began with the collection of rock samples for fossil analysis to determine their geological age. During this process, researchers identified two unique new fossils.
“After the discovery, we carried out detailed studies to determine their age and classification. Since they had not yet been named, we designated them Pualacana xananai and Pualacana hortai,” Brites told TATOLI.
He emphasized that the fossils were named in honor of their discovery site, Pualaca, and to pay tribute to Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and President José Ramos-Horta, both natives of Manatuto.
This finding represents a major contribution to the understanding of Upper Triassic Foraminifera (Norian–Rhaetian), not only in Timor-Leste but also globally.
The genus name Pualacana derives from the locality of Pualaca in Manatuto, combined with the Latin suffix “-na.” The species names hortai and xananai honor national leaders Ramos-Horta and Xanana Gusmão, with the suffix “-i” added to their names.
The fossils are documented in a scientific article titled “Upper Triassic (Norian–Rhaetian) Variostomatids (Foraminifera), Timor-Leste: Systematics, Paleoenvironmental, and Biostratigraphic Implications.”
The article was authored by Isaias Santos Barros of IGTL, together with David W. Haig and Eujay Mccartain of The University of Western Australia. It confirms the existence of the new genus Pualacana and its two species, which are now formally recognized in international scientific literature.
This paleontological breakthrough highlights Timor-Leste’s significance in global research, with the identification of a new foraminiferal genus and two species: Pualacana hortai and Pualacana xananai.
The discovery resulted from detailed biostratigraphic studies of mudstone facies in the Aitutu and Wailuli Formations, aimed at refining stratigraphic frameworks and determining the age of geological units through microfossil analysis.
The species lived approximately 215 to 205 million years ago. This milestone underscores Timor-Leste’s importance in paleontological research worldwide.
Brites noted that the scientific article was published in an international journal in April 2025, ensuring that the names and classifications are permanently registered.
Journalist: Arminda Fonseca
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
