Chiropsella bart
Professor Bart Currie from CDU’s Menzies School of Health Research has been honoured for his research into box jellyfish.
Having studied box jellyfish in the Top End for more than 17 years, Professor Currie has had a species of multi-tentacled box jellyfish named after him, Chiropsella bart.
‘It’s a great honour and I’m really very excited about it,’ said Professor Currie.
Professor Currie said the Chiropsella bart was about the size of a tennis ball and was not potentially life-threatening to humans.
‘As far as jellyfish go this one isn’t such a baddie. It wouldn’t kill people, but if a child had a lot of tentacle contact it could be very serious.’
The jellyfish, which is only common to Nhulunbuy, is prevalent in the dry season, unlike all other known species, which are common in the wet.
‘It’s extremely interesting and quite unique to the Territory,’ he explained.
CDU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Garnett, said the honour of a species being named after Professor Currie was fitting recognition of his many years of research in the field.
‘Professor Currie and the Menzies School of Health Research have been keeping Territorians safe by researching the prevention of jellyfish deaths over the past two decades.’
The specimen of Chiropsella bart will be lodged in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, where it will have a special designation that sets it apart from other species.