A newly described species of Pilbara land snail has been discovered by WA Museum scientists and named in memory of a beloved family dog.

The new species of land snail, Bothriembryon rocketi, was published in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy following a 5-year project – between 2014 and 2019 – to explore the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of the Pilbara.

WA Museum’s Aquatic Zoology scientists used a comprehensive DNA data set to confirm that at least one undescribed species of Bothriembryon land snail was present in the region.  

Technical Officer (Mollusca) Corey Whisson said land snails were a key part of the project as they are incredibly important in Environmental Impact Assessments associated with mining, especially in the Pilbara.

“This new species is particularly special, as the group is usually found in the wetter and cooler parts of southern WA,” he said.

“Its wide occurrence across the scenic Hamersley Range in the Pilbara is the most northern record of the group in Australia, whilst snails might be slow, this one has spread far and wide like a rocket!”

The final step in describing a new species is the naming, an opportunity that was auctioned at the 2022 Foundation of the WA Museum Gala, which funded the taxonomic description.

Successful bidders Mel Watts and Rob Ranalli named the species after their dog Rocket. Mr Ranalli said this was an amazing and completely unique way of remembering Rocket. 

“We are absolutely thrilled that his memory will live on for us and others, and at the same time our donation will help scientific research in our home state. We have learnt so much about how many new species are found every year in Western Australia, including snails!”

“Rocket brought so much joy to our family for 17 years, our two sons are so proud of him and want all of the world to remember him,” he said.

This sequencing work was funded by the Gorgon Project’s Barrow Island Net Conservation Benefits Fund. Fieldwork to complete taxonomic description was funded by the Foundation for the WA Museum by auctioning the right to name this species at the 2022 Night at the Museum Gala.