The fly-in, fly-out workers of north-west WA have inspired the scientific name for a blue and orange creature found on the ocean floor.

In conjunction with the Western Australian Museum, ABC RN asked the public to name a species of nudibranch first discovered off the coast of Exmouth.

The animal is a slug-like gastropod, about 6 to 8 centimetres long, with finger-like white and blue structures on its back called cerata.

Thousands of people entered the competition, and at the end of an exhaustive judging process, it has been named Moridilla fifo, in honour of the state's mine workers.

Moridilla fifo

The nudibranch has the amazing ability to move cells around its body to work in different places.

It gets the cells by eating Cnidaria animals, including jellyfish, which have stinging cells.

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The nudibranch absorbs the useful stinging cells, which then move through the body to the end of its cerata.

The nudibranch essentially deploys the defensive worker cells of its prey to where they are useful.

The competition's winner, Patrick Dwyer of NSW, reasoned that the nudibranch should be named after the fly-in fly-out workers of north-west WA, where the creature was discovered.

He says the FIFO workers are "an important resource also brought in from elsewhere".

It's also rocking a hi-vis colour scheme.

Other favourite entries

Moridilla hipster

The nudibranch's 'huge moustache' made Scott Pfaff think of a hipster. ( unsplash.com: Oliver Astrologo )

We got hundreds of entries about moustaches, Scott Pfaff's suggestion was quite persuasive.

"Huge moustache: check! Wearing ironically clashing colours: check!

"People think they're cool: check! Probably rides a fixie when you're not looking: check! It's a hipster!"

Moridilla finger bun

An image of a finger bun on a white background. ( Getty Images/CTRPhotos )

The nudibranch doesn't look particularly edible, but that didn't stop many entries relating to food.

One of our favourites was from Ian Buckley: "It resembles a bakery product with the tan body and sprinkles on top."

Moridilla sherbie

Do these lollies look like nudibranchs? ( ABC News: Margaret Burin )

Also in the edible category was this suggestion from Jess Lee: Moridilla sherbie.

It's not hard to see the resemblance.

Moridilla karlakarlem

Karlakarlem means 'dusk' in the Worrorra language of the WA coast. ( unsplash.com: Graham McIver )

Several entries used the Indigenous languages of the WA coastline.

Shannon Grew's suggestion came from the Worrorra language of north-west WA, meaning "dusk".

Quite poetic, really.

Moridilla opalus saltatio

The green and blue surface of an Australian opal. ( aleskramer/Getty Images )

We said we'd handle the Latin grammar, but we got lots of entries that were already perfect. Clearly there are lots of Latin buffs out there.

Pat Grummet suggested Moridilla opalus saltatio, or "the dancing opal".

"Opalus brings to mind the vibrating colours of opal, while also locating the specimen in Australia," he wrote.

"Saltatio means dancing, and reminds me of the salsa."

Moridilla carlotta

Jessica Marais plays Carlotta in the Samantha Lang directed ABC telemovie. ( Supplied )

More than one entry made reference to the nudibranch's gaudy styling.

One suggestion referenced Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but our favourite was John Camboni's nod to iconic Australian showgirl and trans pioneer Carlotta.