|
|
|
Classifying box jellyfish
Jellyfish with box-shaped bodies or bells are called cubozoan jellyfish.
They belong to the Phylum Cnidaria which also includes sea anemones,
corals, true jellyfish and bluebottles.
There are two main groups of cubozoan jellyfish – chirodropids
and carybdeids. Chirodropid jellyfish include the large box jellyfish
Chironex fleckeri and species of Chiropsalmus.
Carybdeids include Irukandji jellyfish such as Carukia barnesi
and the jimble Carybdea rastonii.
Chirodropid jellyfish can be larger than carybdeid jellyfish. For
example, Chironex fleckeri can grow to 300-3850mm across
the bell and one species of Chiropsalmus can grow to 90mm
across the bell. The carybdeid jellyfish Carukia barnesi
usually only grows to about 10mm across the bell. Other carybdeids
can grow to 180mm across the bell.
Chirodropid jellyfish have multiple tentacles hanging from each
of the four corners of their bells while carybdeids usually have
a single tentacle hanging from each corner. For example, Chironex
fleckeri can have up to 60 tentacles, 15 on each corner. Species
of Chiropsalmus can have up to nine tentacles on each corner
of the bell.
In contrast, the carybdeid jellyfish Carukia barnesi has
a single retractile tentacle, up to 750mm long, hanging from each
corner of its body. The jimble Carybdea rastonii also has
a single tentacle from each corner of its bell which can be up to
300mm long. However, some species of carybdeids many have several
tentacles from each corner. For example, Tripedalia binata
has two tentacles from each corner of its bell.
 |
Stinging cells of some cubozoan jellyfish are concentrated
in bands on the tentacles.
Photo by Lisa-ann Gershwin. |
Chirodropid jellyfish usually only have stinging cells on their
tentacles. Most carybdeid jellyfish such as Carukia barnesi
have stinging cells on both body and tentacles.
|
