Every 90’s baby remembers the Irwin family, particularly the family patriarch, Steve Irwin. We had plenty of opportunity to meet Steve’s supportive better half, Terri. We even got to meet little Bindi, who was eight when her father passed away in 2006. However, Robert was only two at the time of the terrible accident that took his father’s life when the family slipped from the limelight for much-needed healing.
Now that the kids are older, they are more present in the media again with their mother. We love to see America’s favorite animal family back at it in the public eye. What we didn’t expect was that Terri and Steve Irwin’s son, Robert, would have the honor of having a snail named after him at the tender age of 20.
Meet Robert Irwin
Robert has been compared to his father in many different ways. His attention-grabbing, extroverted personality naturally gravitates toward the camera, just like his father, Steve Irwin. Robert even had his own little debut in cinema when he had a small role in the 2009 movie Free Willie. He has been making small appearances on the big screen ever since.
Don’t get it twisted, though—Robert Irwin is more than an actor. He also published his first books in 2013 and is an avid wildlife photographer and conservationist who follows in Steve Irwin’s footsteps in his work with animals at the Australia Zoo.
Robert wrestles crocodiles and handles snakes just like dad. He’s likely missing the fear gene or lost it early in incidents like the chicken-crocodile incident. Steve Irwin fed a dead chicken to an alligator while holding 1-month-old baby Robert in his arm. Say what you will about that choice, but it definitely set the tone for Robert’s life working with animals.
If you want an more up-to-date picture of the Irwin Family, you can watch the four seasons of Crikey! It’s the Irwins that ran from 2018 to 2022, starring mom Terri, daughter Bindi, and of course, son Robert. For more news on TVs and movies, not Irwin-related, check here. Want some more hot gossip written by this author? Check here.
Snail Naming is a “Steve Irwin” Family Thing
Having a snail species named after you is a rite of passage for an Irwin. Both Steve, Terri, and Bindi had a snail species named after them. It was only a matter of time before Robert did. Bindi’s baby, Grace, is next.
Robert is “thrilled and honored” by the Australian species named after him. The “Robert Irwin Banded Snail” is a very handsome snail, with its dark brown body and black, dark-brown, and light-brown shell. This fits in well with the other family snails.
Steve Irwin’s snail, “Crikey Steveirwini,” is a rare rainforest tree snail that has a slightly different look with a light yellow body and brown spiral bands. Terri has “Protolinitis Terriiwinae,” which is a red-striped rainforest snail. Bindi Irwin’s snail has been described as a tiny land snail.
Scientists say they chose to name the snake after Robert because of his “love for wildlife and the natural world.” Thank goodness they made that choice, because it was only fair that Robert got to pass on the family honor.
What the Scientists Say
The scientists, Dr. John and Dr. Lorelle Stanisic, were able to conduct research in Eastern Queensland on the Figuladra group of snails. The Stanisics were able to utilize DNA profiling to identify the group of snails that are sometimes difficult to differentiate by sight alone. The group expanded from 11 species of snails to 15. Science!
Dr. John Stanisic is a “snail whisperer” who loves snails and wants the rest of us to too. That’s a stretch, but we can all learn to appreciate four snails: the Irwin family snails.
