Irukandji jellyfish

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Irukandji jellyfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Cubozoa Order: Cubomedusae Family: Carybdeidae Genus: Carukua Species: C. barnesi
Binomial name
Carukua barnesi

The Irukandji jellyfish (Carukua 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 12mm by 25mm in height (roughly the size of an adult thumbnail). It has four contractible tentacles ranging in length from 5 cm to 1 m.

Its sting causes symptoms that are collectively known as "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 there is a delayed reaction as the venom exerts its effects systemically.

So far, very little is known about the life-cycle and toxin of the Irukandji jellyfish. This is 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 its prey consisting of small and fast fish. Judging from statistics, it is believed that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, however currently only Carukia barnesi has been proven to cause the Irukandji syndrome.

Contents 1 Irukandji spottings 2 Irukandji syndrome 3 Trivia 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Irukandji spottings

The Irukandji Jellyfish has been spotted as far south as Fraser Island, an island off the Fraser Coast in Queensland, 250 kilometres north of Brisbane. It was spotted on the shores of Fraser on the 25 March 2007.

[edit] Irukandji syndrome

Main article: 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 March 3, 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.

[edit] Trivia

• Barnes, the discoverer of the jellyfish also earned a Honorable Mention of the Darwin Award web page [2] for his rather daring and irresponsible action of exposing himself, his son, and a lifeguard, who rushed the former two to a hospital, to the potentially fatal jellyfish. ^[2]
• This jellyfish was the cause for the delay in filming for a Hollywood film, "Fool's Gold" starring Kate Hudson. Filming was taking place in Queensland, Australia, when the jellyfish was spotted, and a marine biologist was called in to assist.^[3]

[edit] Footnotes

[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.
• C. Du Nimportekoi Dangerous Animals. Med J Aust 1978; 2: 57–90

[edit] External links

• Jellyfish Sting Proves Deadly in Australia
• Photo of Irukandji
• Hope for lethal jellyfish cure