Crikey steveirwini facts for kids

Crikey steveirwini is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Camaenidae. Crikey steveirwini is the only species in the genus Crikey.

Etymology

The specific name steveirwini is in memory of Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin, who died from a stingray injury in 2006. The genus name was a favourite exclamation of Steve Irwin's, "crikey!" being an Australian minced oath. The snail species was described by John Stanisic, a scientist at the Queensland Museum who was later awarded Certified Environmental Practitioner of the Year 2010.

Habitat

Crikey steveirwini occurs in the north-eastern part of Queensland, Australia, in the tropical rain forests also known as the Wet Tropics. Crikey steveirwini is an arboreal species. It has been found at altitudes over 1000 meters.

Appearance

The small, rare species has a high spire and is creamy yellow with coppery brown spiral bands. It can reach 15 millimetres (0.59 in) in size.