Irukandji Jellyfish

The Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) inhabits waters of Australia. This is a deadly jellyfish, which is only 2.5 centimeters (with bell and tentacles) in diameter, which makes it difficult to spot.

The term Irukandji refers to an Australian Aboriginal tribe that inhabited the Palm Cove region of northern Queensland where the Irukandji syndrome, produced by the irukandji stings poison, occurs most often.This is a species of jellyfish that has been known about in recent years, due to deaths of swimmers in Australia.
The jellyfish itself was identified in 1964 by Dr. Jack Barnes.

Irukandji has stingers not only on its tentacles but also on its bell.
Irukandji is very small and fragile, it cannot be kept in a normal aquarium because if they hit the side the impact will kill it. It is very fragile yet very deadly!



Irukandji syndrome symptoms:

The initial sting is typically mild and is followed, minutes to hours later, by vomiting, profuse sweating, headache, agitation, rapid heart rate and very high blood pressure and the worst pain throughout the body. The increase in blood pressure may be life-threatening and can be associated with abnormal heart beat and heart failure. The symptoms may last from hours to several days, and victims usually require hospitalisation. The survival depends on whether the body can withhold the shooting high blood pressure. There is no antidote for the venom of irukandji, the treatment is symptomatic. This includes giving IV morphine(still cant relief the pain some victims ecperience), alpha-blockers, fluids.

Irukandji attack prevention

Lycra stinger suits.
Some beaches erect enclosures ,stinger nets, but Irukandji can still filter through the net. Take the right precautions, you can take steps to minimize the exposure and still enjoy all the wonderful beauty of the reef. Talk to specialised dive operators for further advice. Please remember to get out of the waters if you feel tiny bits of sting and see nothing.

Here is another video of Irukandji attack. Enjoy.



Lastly, I would love to wish all divers and snorkelers around the world to be in the waters safely and have wonderful experience in the sea.

Thank you.
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Love the Ocean. Protect the Ocean.

For more information, log on to :

http://www.irukandjijellyfish.com/