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Stinging jellyfish

Classifying box jellyfish

Chirodropid jellyfish

Carybdeid jellyfish

Life cycle

Vision & movement

Feeding & venom

The sting

Irukandji syndrome

Preventing the sting

Future research

First aid

Other stinging jellyfish

Bluebottles & Pacific man-o-war

More information

 

  

Distribution & abundance

Box jellyfish can be found in most tropical seas around the world. In Australia, they are found in tropical waters predominantly in the wet season (November to May), but may be present throughout the year. Some species that cause Irukandji syndrome can be found regularly as far south as Moreton Bay.

Carukia barnesi, the first jellyfish shown to cause Irukandji syndrome, has been found from Port Douglas in north Queensland, to as far south as the Whitsundays. The jellyfish are found offshore as well as along coastal beaches when northerly or north-easterly winds and currents are thought to carry them onshore. The number of jellyfish in inshore waters can vary between years, probably due to changing weather conditions. In 1999-2000, two scientists sampling north of Cairns every day for four months over summer caught 270 Carukia barnesi (most of them were caught in three days). The following year, only two jellyfish were caught in the same time.

 


CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd

PO Box 772 Townsville
Queensland 4810 Australia
Telephone: 61 7 4729 8400
Facsimile: 61 7 4729 8499
Email: info@crcreef.com
Website: www.reef.crc.org.au

 

CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd was established and is supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program. Its mission is to plan, fund and manage world-leading science for the sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. CRC Reef is a joint venture between Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation, James Cook University, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Sunfish Queensland Inc. The University of Queensland is an associate member.