Irukandji Jellyfish

Taxobox |name = Irukandji jellyfish
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Cnidaria
classis = Cubozoa
ordo = Cubomedusae
familia = Carybdeidae
genus = "Carukia"
species = "C. barnesi"
binomial = "Carukia barnesi"
binomial_authority = Southcott, 1967Taxobox
name="Malo kingi"
regnum=Animalia
phylum=Cnidaria
classis=Cubozoa
ordo=Carybdeida
familia=Tamoyidae
genus="Malo"
species="M. kingi"
binomial="Malo kingi"
binomial_authority=Gershwin, 2007The Irukandji jellyfish ("Carukia barnesi" and "Malo kingi") are small, extremely venomous jellyfish that are found mostly near Australia (not to be confused with the Sea Wasp "Chironex fleckeri", which may cause death but not Irukandji Syndrome). Irukandji jellyfish and Sea Wasps are both classified as Cubozoa, and are also called Box jellyfish or cubomedusae; other jellyfish, or "medusae", are classified as Hydrozoa (also called hydromedusae), Scyphozoa (also called scyphomedusae), and Staurozoa (also called stauromedusae).

The Irukandji's sting causes symptoms which are collectively known as "Irukandji syndrome". They were first documented by Hugo Flecker [cite book | author= Pearn JH | title = Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14| year = 1990 | publisher = Melbourne University Press | pages=182-4|id = ISBN 0-522-84717-X | url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140195b.htm] in 1952 and named after the Irukandji people whose country stretches along the coastal strip north of Cairns, Queensland. [Cite journal | issn = 0025729 | volume = 2 | issue = 3 | pages = 89-91 | last = Flecker | first = Hugo | title = Irukandji sting to North Queensland bathers without production of weals but with severe general symptoms | journal = The Medical journal of Australia | date = 1952-07-19 | id = PMID 14956317 ] The first-known of these jellyfish, "Carukia 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.

Like some other jellyfishes, the Irukandji have stingers (nematocysts) not only on their tentacles (on which the stingers are arranged in clusters that look similar to drops of water), but also on the bell. In addition, the venom is injected only from the tip of the stinger (nematocyst) 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 they are small, inconspicuous, 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 "Carukia barnesi" and "Malo kingi" have so far been proven to cause the syndrome. [Cite journal | issn = 0025729 | volume = 1 | pages = 897-904 | last = Barnes | first = J H | title = Cause And Effect In Irukandji Stingings | journal = The Medical journal of Australia | date = 1964-06-13 | id = PMID 14172390 ]

"Carukia barnesi"

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

"Malo 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. [ [http://www.species.asu.edu/2008_species08.php International Institute for Species Exploration ] ]

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 stung 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 , but two people in Australia are believed to have died from Irukandji stings,Cite journal | issn = 0025729 | volume = 177 | issue = 7 | pages = 362-3 | last = Fenner | first = Peter J | coauthors = John C Hadok | title = Fatal envenomation by jellyfish causing Irukandji syndrome | journal = The Medical journal of Australia | date = 2002-10-07 | id = PMID 12358578] greatly increasing public awareness of Irukandji syndrome. It is unknown how many other deaths from Irukandji syndrome have been wrongly attributed to other causes.

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. [Cite news | title = Jellyfish jeopardises Hudson film | work = BBC | accessdate = 2007-12-15 | date = 2007-03-30 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6509707.stm ]

* The jellyfish and Dr. Barnes' experiment were referenced in a strip from the webcomic Three Panel Soul [ [http://www.threepanelsoul.com/view.php?date=2007-09-03 Three Panel Soul :: Archive ] ]

* In Guild Wars Factions an Irukandji is a foe common to the Jade Sea area. [ [http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Irukandji Irukandji - Guild Wars Wiki (GWW) ] ]

* 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 [http://newyorkcsi.wetpaint.com/page/408:+Buzzkill?t=anon far-fetched murder weapon] .

References

* [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/z01659p068f.pdf "Malo kingi": A new species of Irukandji jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa:Carybdeida), possibly lethal to humans, from Queensland, Australia]

External links

* [http://www.irukandjijellyfish.com Irukandji Jellyfish]
* [http://www.roadandtravel.com/health/jellyfish.htm Jellyfish Sting Proves Deadly in Australia]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2713211.stm Hope for lethal jellyfish cure]
* [http://www.darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid1998-14.html Stingy Scientist] : Darwin Award