Irukandji jellyfish
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| Carukia barnesi |
the irukandji jelly fish was first seen in 1945 by a few surfers who died 2 years later after getting stung by it. This then led to much research on this animal
The Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) is a small, extremely venomous box jellyfish of the class Cubozoa that occurs in the northern waters of Australia. A mature Irukandji jellyfish's bell is only 12 mm in diameter and its depth no more than 25 mm. It has four contractible tentacles ranging in length from 5 cm to 1 m.
Its sting causes painful symptoms that were named "Irukandji syndrome" by Hugo Flecker in 1952, after an aboriginal tribe of Cairns. The jellyfish itself was identified only in 1964 by Dr. Jack Barnes; in order to prove it was indeed the cause of Irukandji syndrome, he captured the tiny jelly and stung both himself and his son. It takes part of its scientific name from Barnes.
Unlike other jellyfish, the Irukandji jellyfish has stingers (nematocysts) not only on its tentacles (which are arranged in clusters that look similar to drops of water), but also on its bell. Also unique to this jellyfish is that the venom is injected only from the tip of the stinger (cnidocyst) rather than the entire length. This explains why the initial sting is mild and the delayed reaction to the venom as the venom often has to travel farther to a vein to be distributed throughout the body.
So far, very little is known about the life and toxin of the Irukandji jellyfish, partly because it is very small and fragile. The researchers above have conjectured that the venom must be so potent in order to quickly stun the small, fast fish which make up the diet of Carukia barnesi. Judging from statistics, it has been conjectured that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, however only Carukia barnesi is proven to cause the Irukandji syndrome.
Vinegar has been found to inhibit Irukandji jellyfish stingers.
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[edit] Irukandji syndrome
Irukandji syndrome is produced by a very small amount of venom and includes severe pains at various parts of the body (typically excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, and a burning sensation of the skin and face), headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, high heart rate and blood pressure. As of 2006, no antivenom is known. The sting itself is only moderately irritating, the severe syndrome being delayed for 5-120 minutes (30 minutes on average).
When properly treated a single sting is normally not fatal, however two people in Australia were believed to have died from Irukandji stings,[1] greatly increasing public awareness of Irukandji syndrome. It is unknown how many other deaths from Irukandji syndrome have been wrongly attributed to other causes.
Some reports indicate that a magnesium infusion may help victims of Irukandji stings.[2]
[edit] Trivia
Barnes, the discoveror of the jellyfish also earned an Honorable Mention of the Darwin Award web page for his rather daring and somewhat irresponsible action of exposing himself, his son and a bystander to the potentially fatal jellyfish. [3]
http://www.darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid1998-14.html
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Fenner P, Hadok J (2002). "Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome". Med J Aust 177 (7): 362-3. PMID 12358578.
- ^ Corkeron M (2003). "Magnesium infusion to treat Irukandji syndrome". Med J Aust 178 (8): 411. PMID 12697017.
- ^ Darwin Awards website, 1997 Honorable Mentions
[edit] References
- Flecker H. Irukandji sting to North Queensland bathers without production of weals but severe general symptoms. Med J Aust 1952; 2: 89-91.
- Barnes J. H. Cause and effect in Irukandji stingings. Med J Aust 1964; 1: 897-904.
- S. H. Anesmum RSP Adl. 2006.
