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Have you ever wanted your name to go down in scientific history? Would you like the chance to have naming rights to a newly described deep sea species that is completely new to science? You can have all this and help save our precious ocean wildlife at the same time.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society is offering ocean lovers a rare and intriguing chance to take part in a charity online auction to name a new species of shrimp. Proceeds from the auction will contribute to a recently launched campaign to protect our South-west oceans in a system of marine national parks.
In early April this year, a small spotted shrimp discovered deep in the waters of south west Australia will be given a new scientific name. The species' name will be determined by the winning bidder of our AMCS auction, which will run through Ebay. The online auction will begin at 9am (Australian Eastern Daylight Standard Time) 22nd March 2009 and end at 9am (AEDST) on the 1st April 2009.
Despite living 400m below the surface of the ocean, this newly described species has a jewel like appearance.
"Morphing from yellow to green, this species is covered in scarlet spots and sports a toothed crest across the top of its body, which gives it the appearance of having a mohawk," said Anna McCallum, the Melbourne scientist who discovered the new species.
"The shrimp is in the group or genus of shrimps known as Lebbeus, but is awaiting the addition of a unique species name," Anna said.
As well as going down in scientific conservation history, the successful bidder will received a framed painting of the newly discovered shrimp by scientific artist Mali Moir. Mali has worked at the National Herbarium of Victoria since 1992 and exhibits her work widely in Australia and internationally. She combines her fascination for science and natural history with an active desire to render works of art with beauty, character and scientific merit.
The funds raised from the auction will support the campaign to protect the marine wildlife off south-west Australia, over 80% of which is found nowhere else on earth.
For more information on the auction contact University of Melbourne PhD research student, Anna McCallum on 0411 953 737.
Photos of the shrimp and other ocean images are available at AMCS call (07) 3393 5811 or visit www.marineconservation.org.au
Background:
1. The Australian Marine Conservation Society is a national charity dedicated to protecting our ocean wildlife. We work to create marine national parks, save our endangered ocean wildlife and make our fisheries sustainable (reduce overfishing).
2. The proceeds from the auction will go towards our work to protect Australia?s south west in a system of marine national parks where all life is safe from harm.
3. The South west region, from Kalbarri (near Shark Bay) to Eucla (near the WA/SA) border is an incredible part of our blue back yard, with some of the most spectacular and vulnerable marine wildlife on earth. Over 80% of the life there is found no-where else on earth.
4. The region has extraordinary underwater habitats - submerged mountain ranges, deep sea canyons and cool coral reefs.
5. The largest animal on earth, the blue whale, travels to the Perth Canyons (in the SW) to feed on tiny phytoplankton riding on the deepwater upwellings. It is one of only two known places in Australia where blue whales feed.
6. The south west is vital for recovering populations of Australian fur seals.
7. The online auction will begin at 9am (Eastern Standard Time) 22nd March 2009 and ends at 9am on the 31st March 2009. The auction will run through E-bay.
8. Visit our website www.marineconservation.org.au. The auction can be accessed from the home page.
9. The event can also be found on Facebook here
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