Irukandji Jellyfish
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The Irukandji jellyfish is one of the most venomous jellyfish in the world. It is very small, usually 5-10mm wide, but its venom is extremely powerful, 100 times more potent than a cobra's venom. Little is known about its life cycle due to its small and fragile nature. It is believed to reproduce similar to other jellyfish, starting as an egg that develops into a polyp then buds off ephyra that mature into adult jellyfish. Their sting can cause excruciating "Irukandji syndrome" within 30 minutes of the sting.
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Irukandji Jellyfish
- 1. Irukandji Jellyfish Jellyfish .Zach Pechette.
- 2. Very Little is known about the life cycle of the Irukandji Jellyfish. This is because they are too small and sufficiently fragile to require special handling and containment.
- 3. Two Species Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Cubozoa Order: C arybdei da Family: Tamo yidae Genu s: Malo Species: M. kingi Malo kingi Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Cubozoa Order: C arybdei da Family: Cary bdeidae Ge nus: Carukia Specie s: C. barne si Carukia barnesi Animalia: Taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals. Cnidaria: Hydras; polyps; jellyfishes; sea anemones; corals. Cubozoa: Box Jellyfish, named for their cube-shaped medusae, are a class of invertebrates belonging to the class Cubozoa, as well as being the preferred common name for notoriously dangerous Chironex fleckeri. Carybdeida: A taxonomic family, within order Cubommedusae - the box jellyfish. Carybdeidae: A family of venomous box jellyfish within class Cubozoa.
- 4. Physical Statistics Very small. Bell: 5mm to 10mm wide. Tentacles range from just a few centimeters to a meter. Stingers (nematocysts) are in clumps. Venom is extremely powerful 100 times that of a Cobra, and 1000 times as potent as that of a Tarantula. The stringers are not only on the tentacles but its bell as well. Tentacles Bell
- 5. Food Statistics Irukandji Jellyfish are very small, no bigger than your fingertip. Because of their size their diet consists exclusively of zooplankton.
- 6. Habitat Irukandji Jellyfish were at one time thought to be in the northern waters of Australia only. Since then, the species has been found in waters as far north as the British Isles, Japan, and the Florida coast of the USA.
- 7. Means of Reproduction The life cycle of this jellyfish is not known. It is theorized that it reproduces like that normal jellyfish especially that of its cousin the Box Jellyfish.
- 8. Box Jellys Reproduce By: The egg of the Jellyfish floats freely in the water. The egg metamorphoses into a larva called a plana. The larva swims to an opportune location. It attaches it self to the ocean floor becoming a polyp. The top opens up to catch nutrients little bits of food, and the beginning buds of tentacles form. The tentacles continue to grow in length as the dossal larva grows. It continues to grow bigger. It enters the segmented polyp stage. Ephyra "immature jellies" begin to form. They break off. The ephyra starts to mature. The ephyra reaches the adolescence stage. The adult jellyfish is ready to reproduce.
- 9. Interesting Facts The Irukandji Jellyfish can shoot their stingers. It is the most deadly jelly in the world. Some had been found in the water supply of the city of Derby. Irukandji Syndrome
- 10. Irukandji Syndrome There are six other jellyfish that cause Irukandji syndrome. People dont normally feel the initial sting, but within 5-45 minuets symptoms will become present but on average it takes 1/2 hour. The victim then experiences extreme muscle cramps, shooting pains over the body especially in the chest and stomach, also up and down the arms also vomiting may insure, also convulsions may insure. Some so violently painful even under the full dose of morphine, one victim commented, that she could rip her skin off.