Irukandji Jellyfish

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Irukandji jellyfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Order: Cubomedusae
Family: Carybdeidae
Genus: Carukia
Species: C. barnesi
Binomial name
Carukia barnesi
Malo kingi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Order: Carybdeida
Family: Tamoyidae
Genus: Malo
Species: M. kingi
Binomial name
Malo kingi
Gershwin, 2007

The Irukandji jellyfishes (Carukia barnesi and the Malo kingi) are small, extremely venomous jellyfishes (Cubozoans, which are not true jellyfishes; Scyphozoans) that are found near Australia (not to be confused with the Sea Wasp or Box Jellyfish, which causes death and not Irukandji Syndrome). The Irukandji's sting causes symptoms which are collectively known as "Irukandji syndrome". They were first documented by Hugo Flecker[1] in 1952 and named after the Irukandji people whose country stretches along the coastal strip north of Cairns, Queensland.[2] The first-known of these jellyfishes, C. barnesi, was identified in 1964 by Dr. Jack Barnes; in order to prove it was the cause of Irukandji syndrome, he captured the tiny jelly and stung himself, his son, and a life guard.

Unlike other jellyfish, the Irukandji 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. In addition, its venom is injected only from the tip of the stinger (cnidocyst) rather than the entire length: This is why the initial sting is mild and there is a delayed reaction as the venom exerts its effects.

Very little is known about the life cycle and venom of Irukandji jellyfish. This is partly because it is very small and fragile, so fragile that they cannot be kept in a normal fish bowl or aquarium because if they hit the side the impact will kill them. Researchers conjecture that its venom possesses such potency to enable it to quickly stun its prey, which consists of small and fast fish. Judging from statistics, it is believed that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, but only C. barnesi has been proven to cause the syndrome.[3]

Contents

[edit] C. barnesi

Scale drawing of Irukandji jellyfish and tentacles
Scale drawing of Irukandji jellyfish and tentacles

A mature C. barnesi's bell is only 12 mm by 25 mm in height. It has four contractible tentacles ranging in length from 5 cm to 1 m.

[edit] Sightings

Irukandji jellyfish have been seen 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 25 March, 2007.

[edit] M. kingi

M. kingi is an Irukandji jellyfish named after victim Robert King, a tourist from America who died from its sting. This jellyfish earned the eighth rank in the top ten species of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration[1].

[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. Magnesium Sulphate is used as of 2007 to treat irukandji syndrome. The sting itself is only moderately irritating; the severe syndrome is delayed for 5–120 minutes (30 minutes on average). The symptoms may last from hours to several days, and victims usually require hospitalization. The application of vinegar to the bite site can deactivate any remaining nematocysts on the skin. There is no known antidote for venom that has already entered the body.

When properly treated, a single sting is normally not fatal, but two people in Australia are believed to have died from Irukandji stings,[4] 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] Irukandji jellyfish in pop culture

  • 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.[5]
  • The jellyfish and Dr. Barnes' experiment were referenced in a strip from the webcomic Three Panel Soul[6]
  • In Guild Wars Factions an Irukandji is a foe common to the Jade Sea area. [7]
  • This jellyfish was the centre story line for episode 1.4 of Sea Patrol, an Australian Drama. This episode was titled Irukandji.
  • In an episode of the TV show CSI:NY, one such jellyfish was the far-fetched murder weapon.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pearn JH (1990). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14. Melbourne University Press, 182-4. ISBN 0-522-84717-X. 
  2. ^ Flecker, Hugo (1952-07-19). "Irukandji sting to North Queensland bathers without production of weals but with severe general symptoms". The Medical journal of Australia 2 (3): 89-91. ISSN 0025729. PMID 14956317. 
  3. ^ Barnes, J H (1964-06-13). "Cause And Effect In Irukandji Stingings". The Medical journal of Australia 1: 897-904. ISSN 0025729. PMID 14172390. 
  4. ^ Fenner, Peter J; John C Hadok (2002-10-07). "Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome". The Medical journal of Australia 177 (7): 362-3. ISSN 0025729. PMID 12358578. 
  5. ^ "Jellyfish jeopardises Hudson film", BBC, 2007-03-30. Retrieved on 2007-12-15. 
  6. ^ http://www.threepanelsoul.com/view.php?date=2007-09-03
  7. ^ http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Irukandji

[edit] External links

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