Several new species found around remote WA coast

Updated

Scientists believe they have discovered several new species of creatures around Western Australia's remote Kimberley coast.

The CSIRO-led team spent 11 days mapping the King George River region near the state's northern tip.

Dr John Keesing said the team gathered around 3,500 specimens as part of the most comprehensive survey undertaken in the Kimberley.

"We surveyed from the freshwater habitat, right up at the base of the King George River falls, right out through the estuary and to Lesueur Island," he said.

WA Museum curator Andrew Hosie and his colleagues have spent the last few weeks studying their bounty, analysing what is new to science.

"At the moment it's early days with ... working out exactly which ones they are," Mr Hosie said.

"But certainly in the crabs and the shrimp there are going to be a few new species."

Scientists say this knowledge is crucial, with large parts of the area set to become a marine park and the region being home to vast natural gas reserves.

"You can't plan for multiple uses of the marine environment unless you know what habitats are there and what diversity exists in the region," Dr Keesing said.

Topics: animals, animal-science, science-and-technology, port-hedland-6721

First posted