Bid on eBay to name a shrimp
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?
A small spotted shrimp discovered deep in the waters of south west Australia will be given a new scientific name. PhD student Anna McCallum, who discovered the shrimp, has generously chosen to auction the naming rights of the shrimp and dedicate all profits from the auction towards marine conservation.
The online auction will begin at 9am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Sunday 22nd March 2009 and end at 9am (AEST) on Tuesday 31st March 2009. The auction will run through Ebay.
This newly described species has a jewel-like appearance. Morphing from yellow to green, this spectacular shrimp is covered in scarlet spots and sports a toothed crest across the top of its body. It is in the group or genus of shrimps known as Lebbeus, and is waiting for you to place your bid and choose a unique species name that will go down in scientific history.
For more about the shrimp and a link to the auction, visit the Australian Marine Conservation website from Sunday 22nd March 2009.