Sponge species named after WA’s chief science officer

A new species of sponge discovered in Perth Canyon off Rottnest Island has been named after Lyn Beazley, Western Australia's chief science officer.

“The species, Manihinea lynbeazleyae, has been named after Professor Beazley to acknowledge her dedicated advocacy of science in this State and her strong support of sponge research and the work of the Western Australian Museum,” said John Day, the state science and innovation minister.

The species was discovered in 2005 on an expedition funded by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation to collect sponges and other invertebrates from the canyon and the deeper waters around Australia’s south-west coast.