A curious child from Paradise Point is responsible for the discovery of a new species of box jellyfish found in a local canal.

Nine-year-old Saxon Thomas found the new species when fishing in his backyard canal.

Scientists have now confirmed the jellyfish is a new scientific discovery.

But Australian Marine Stinger Advisory services director Lisa Gershwin says there is a lot more to learn about it.

"We're still trying to name it," Ms Gershwin says.

"I haven't met Saxon yet but my intention is to one of these days when I meet him ask him what he would like it to be named... I wanna give him the choice to name it because I think it's such a wonderful thing that here's these kids out playing with nature and going 'hey wait, that's different - what's that?' - and now we know. What a fabulous find."

Queensland Museum's marine expert Doctor Merrick Ekins has examined the jellyfish.

"A new species is always very exciting. We've got a bit more work to do to work out exactly what it is... but it's definitely in the same family as the box jellyfish. But it's not THE box jellyfish which is a big relief," Dr Ekins says.

"The first thing we did was to make sure it wasn't the Chironex fleckeri box jellyfish that's infamous for killing people, because if that's suddenly appearing down here on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast then that would be a real issue for swimmers."

However, it is not yet known if this new species is dangerous in its own way.

"We don't know about that... whether it gives you a sting is most likely. It's probably not life threatening but we don't know."