The Moridilla fifo, a sea slug that inhabits the waters off WA's coast, was first discovered 18 years ago off WA's northwest coast by WA Museum senior research scientist and molecular systematics unit manager Dr Nerida Wilson in a diving exhibition.

Wilson said the sea slug was a nudibranch: a photogenic and flamboyant sea slug.

Its bright orange colouration is reminiscent of the hi-vis many FIFO workers wear.

Wilson said at the time that the slug was thought to be a different colour morph of a known species, however, after applying DNA data it was understand to be a new species that only occured in the northwest of Australia.

The name, the Moridilla fifo, was thought up by New South Wales man Patrick Dwyer in an ABC Radio National competition running as part of 2016 National Science Week.

According to Dwyer, the sea slug's use of stinging cells temporarily relocated for its defence reminded him of temporarily relocated FIFO workers and the bright red colouring of their hi-visibility gear.