Box Jellyfish
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Deadliest Jellyfish in the Ocean
In recent years, they and other jellyfish species have come out of their ancient deep water habitat, and are increasing in numbers exponentially every year. They now pose a threat to our oceans, not only to humans but to the ecosystem as well. They are not limiting themselves to one area of the ocean. They are cropping up everywhere.
Strange to think that such a primitive looking and really quite beautiful creature can pose such a serious threat.
We will take a look at recent discoveries about these strange creatures, and talk about some of the safety concerns when in close proximity of a box jelly.
Photo: Alexandra Roberts
Contents at a Glance
Box Jellyfish Facts
Box Jellyfish is not a single type of jellyfish, but a term for a group of similar jellyfish species.Not all species of box jellyfish are dangerous to humans
Some bloom in phases of the full moon.
Others can lie dormant as tiny pods at the bottom of the ocean for half a century.
They reproduce asexually, cloning themselves by the millions.
They do not sting humans on purpose. The sting happens from a brush against a tentacle, which sets off millions of bursts of their poisonous venom into the skin.
The venom destroys red blood cells, blisters the skin, and targets nerve receptacles which create long lasting and excruciating pain, and can trigger cardiac arrest.
News on the Box Jelly
- Scientists discover wheezing monkey, walking cactus
- On this year's top 10 new species list is the sneezing monkey rhinopithecus strykeri, a Bonaire banded box jellyfish, the underwater Devil's worm which resides in South African gold mines, a unique night-blooming orchid, the SpongeBob SquarePants ...
- Blooming jellyfish stay for safety-stop
- PHUKET: Directly in front of my mask, as we hang on the mooring line for our safety-stop, is a small jellyfish (jellies or sea jellies depending on your concern about the misnomer), not a box jellyfish or an infamous jelly-like Portuguese man-o-war ...
- Top 10 list features newest species discovered
- Bonaire banded box jelly. This strikingly beautiful but highly lethal jellyfish looks like a box kite with a colorful long tail. Found on the island of Bonaire, it is named Tamoya ohboya because a teacher in a science project thought a victim might ...
Jellyfish Invasion
Jellyfish Invasion
Amazon Price: $19.93 (as of 05/30/2012)
Excellent and extensive information and video of these amazing creatures
Deceptively Beautiful
The Boxies
Australia
In Australia alone, there are more than 50 incidents of Irukandji Syndrome every year, and it is getting worse.
New Box Jelly Species Named!
Beautiful, and still.... deadly!
Why are Jellyfish Populations Exploding so Quickly?
The answers are shocking. We are stressing them out. The jellies reproduce when they experience a change in their environment. Large population explosions seem to coincide with highly populated areas on nearby land. The toxic waste from humans which is being dumped into the ocean is effectively shocking jellyfish into releasing their eggs. The Jellyfish will do this in any kind of stress. The presence of toxic chemicals will trigger their release of eggs, but it is not the only thing. Changing temperature in the water and turbulent waters will trigger it also. This means that climate change is another cause of their rapid reproduction.Since Jellies can survive anywhere in the ocean, including the hot heat vents of the extreme deep as well as the freezing waters of the arctic, and because they have survived for billions of years, this is a fight they very well may win. It is up to us to change our behavior create a calmer environment for which to coexist with the jellies. They are not out to kill us. They simply want to survive.
Symptoms of Irukandji Syndrome
A nearly imperceptible pin prick
Headache
Muscle Cramps
Unending crescendo
of excruciating pain
Killer Tentacles
Jellyfish Safety Tips
How to avoid them, and what to do if you are stung
All types of jellyfish will sting you, but not all jellyfish venom is harmful to humans. Only 70 of the 2,000 known jellyfish species can seriously harm people. Some species can kill you though, so it is important to know how to avoid them and what to do if you are stung. The tentacles which hang from the jellyfish are the part which sting. They use these tentacles to capture and kill their food.
The high Jellyfish season is October to May. If you swim during these months wear protective gear, such as a stinger suit.
Watch out for jellyfish on the beach. If they have washed up on shore, they can still sting you. Be careful not to step on them and do not touch them or try to pick them up. Even a tentacle detached from the jellyfish can sting.
Public beaches monitor the water for jellyfish and will post warnings when they are present. Be sure to look for such warnings, and avoid going into the water if the warnings are posted.
If you are stung by a jellyfish, make sure the tentacles are not still attached. Rubbing wet sand on the area can help remove the stingers. Immediately wash the wound with vinegar or rubbing alcohol. You can also sprinkle meat tenderizer or put a baking soda and water paste on the sting.
If the tentacles are still attached to the skin, pour vinegar over them and detach with a stick or other object. Do not touch with your hands. Quickly wrap a light bandage above and below the sting. I have seen some suggest urinating on the sting, but also have seen advice against it.
Do not rinse with water! Rinsing with water can release more poison. See a lifeguards if one is in the area for first aid.
A Deadly Sting
A box jellyfish can kill a human
in less than two minutes,
faster than any animal on the planet.
SARAH ELKS From: The Australian
Box Jellyfish
Who's talking about them on Twitter?
Further resources on Box Jellyfish
- Suffolk County Government - Frequently Asked Questions
- Suffolk County NY Safety Ships
- NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Protecting Lives & Property
- NOAA HOME
7 Dangers at the Beach - Stinging Jellyfish
- Learn about jellyfish, jellyfish safety, jellyfish pets and stinging jellyfish at JellyfishFacts.net
- Attack of the jellyfish - Environment - Macleans.ca
- Scientists debate the 'rise of slime' theory
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