A sea slug that inhabits the waters off the north-west coast of Western Australia has officially been named after the State’s fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers.

The sea slug—Moridilla fifo—was officially named in a paper published in the latest issue of the Records of the Western Australian Museum written by researchers Dr Leila Carmona and Dr Nerida Wilson.

The creature is a nudibranch — a photogenic and flamboyant sea slug which has tiny, orange-tipped ‘sausages’ all over its back that it uses in a defensive dance when feeling threatened.

The slug was first noticed by Dr Wilson, Senior Research Scientist and Manager of the Molecular Systematics Unit at the WA Museum, while diving off WA’s north-west coast 18 years ago.

“At the time, this slug was thought to be a different colour morph of a known species. Now, with the application of DNA data, we understand that it is a new species that only occurs in the north-west of Australia,” Dr Wilson said.

The sea slug was named thanks to a successful competition run by the ABC’s Radio National nature podcast Off Track as part of 2016 National Science Week.

The winning entry—Moridilla fifo—came from Patrick Dwyer of NSW, who likened the sea slug’s use of stinging cells temporarily relocated for its defence to the temporarily relocated FIFO workers, and its bright red colouring as reminiscent of hi-visibility clothing.

 

Media contact

Tony Malkovic

Acting Communications and Media Manager, WA Museum

Ph: 0411 103 398

tony.malkovic@museum.wa.gov.au