New species named after Cape Verde keeper Vozinha

After earning worldwide praise for his World Cup performances with Cape Verde, goalkeeper Vozinha received a distinct honour when a newly discovered sea‑snail taxon was named in his recognition. The tiny reddish mollusc was found by biologist Jesus Ortea in the Caribbean, who chose to designate it after the 40‑year‑old star of the island nation’s campaign. The species now bears the name Aldisa vozinha. Cape Verde, the second‑smallest federation ever to reach a World Cup finals, had taken on holders Argentina earlier in the tournament before exiting the competition with a 3‑2 extra‑time defeat in the round of the past 32. Prior to that match, Vozinha’s heroics secured the team’s first World Cup point in a goalless draw against European champions Spain. Ortea explained that he wanted to highlight Vozinha's “prominent role” and noted that the naming also came against a side nicknamed La Roja - The Red One. “The reddish colour of the dedicated taxon is simply a reminder of his feat,” his study added. The goalkeeper’s standout performance sparked an overnight surge in fame; his Instagram following jumped from 50,000 to 17.4 cardinal, surpassing the figures of athletes such as NFL fable Tom Brady. Ortea, professor emeritus at the University of Oviedo, was awarded a Medal of Merit by the Cape Verde federation in 2023 for his work in the waters surrounding the archipelago. This is not the first time the 75‑year‑old researcher has merged his scholarly and sporting interests. He previously named a Costa Rican discovery after former goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who has played for Real Madrid, Paris St‑Germain and Nottingham Forest. Additionally, a small creature sharing the colours of Spanish side Sporting Gijon was christened after the club’s former striker Quini.