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Stinging jellyfish

Classifying box jellyfish

Chirodropid jellyfish

Carybdeid jellyfish

Life cycle

Distribution & abundance

Vision & movement

Feeding & venom

Irukandji syndrome

Preventing the sting

Future research

First aid

Other stinging jellyfish

Bluebottles & Pacific man-o-war

More information


  

The sting

The box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri are the most venomous marine creatures on the planet and, in Australia, have killed almost 70 people in the last 120 years. In the Northern Territory, fatal stings have been recorded in every month of the year except August. Most stings occur in shallow water when the wind is light and the water calm (although stings have occurred in rough weather, in very dirty, deeper water). Victims usually blunder into tentacles trailing behind the jellyfish which are almost invisible in the water. Most stings occur on the lower legs and body.

Pain is instant and severe. The tentacles are like sticky threads and leave raised red marks. The venom of the box jellyfish are neurotoxic (attacks nerves), cardiotoxic (attacks the heart) and dermatonecrotic (destroys skin). Therefore, victims can rapidly stop breathing, sometimes within a few minutes of the sting. Death occurs rapidly unless prompt first aid and medical aid is available. If the victim survives, they are often scarred. Treating the sting sites as if they were burns greatly reduces the scarring, suggesting that it may be secondary infections that cause the scarring.


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.