Crikey! Scientists Name Rare Snail After Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin

The late Steve Irwin, who became an international television star as the host of The Crocodile Hunter, has been immortalized by scientists who discovered a rare Australian land snail and named it in honor of the enthusiastic conservationist and wildlife advocate.

Queensland Museum Honorary Research Fellow Dr. John Stanisic and his colleagues named the snail Crikey steveirwini, which combines Irwin's first and last names with his signature cry of "Crikey!" The snail was discovered in the mountainous regions of north Queensland's Wet Tropics near Cairns.

"This is an extremely rare species of snail," Stanisic said in a statement announcing the discovery. "So far it has only been found in three locations, all on the summits of high mountains in far north Queensland and at altitudes above 1,000 metres which is quite unusual for Australian land snails.

"These mountainous habitats will be among the first to feel the effects of climate change, and Steve Irwin's tree snail could become a focal species for monitoring this change," he said.

"In contrast with its more drab coloured ground-dwelling relatives, Crikey steveirwini is a colourful snail, with swirling bands of creamy yellow, orange-brown and chocolate giving the shell an overall khaki appearance," Stanisic said. "It was the khaki colour that immediately drew the connection to the late Crocodile Hunter."

Steve Irwin, who died in 2006 after being fatally stung by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary near the Great Barrier Reef, was awarded the Queensland Museum's highest honor--the Queensland Museum Medal--in 2003 " his exceptional contribution to the understanding and appreciation of Australian wildlife at an international level and his commitment and passion to conservation and the environment."

Also Read:

• Steve Irwin Profile
• Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, Killed by Stingray