What is the most poisonous jellyfish in the world? Australian box jellyfish, or sea wasp (Chironex fleckeri).

The waters of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia are not at all safe and are home to several species of the most dangerous jellyfish in the world.

For many centuries, the Irukandji Aboriginal tribe has had a legend about a mysterious creature that lives in these waters, which causes unimaginable pain. The curse that today bears the name of the tribe is Irukandji syndrome. A swimmer with a tiny burn may not even see the jellyfish. But after 20 minutes a terrible headache will appear, and after another 10 minutes the pain will spread throughout the body. Symptoms of Irukandji syndrome include nausea and muscle cramps. The pain will not stop for a second, but will only get stronger. Subsequently, the person completely loses control over his movements. Even doctors can only do so much; there is no antidote for Irukandji syndrome. They can only treat symptoms as they appear and relieve pain by administering strong painkillers. It is not always possible to save a person.

The agony, called an ancient curse, is caused by the sting of a tiny, almost invisible jellyfish, weighing less than 28 grams. Until the sixties, scientists knew nothing about this small and seemingly harmless creature. The Latin name for this jellyfish is Carukia barnesi. So it was named in honor of the discoverer of this type of jellyfish, a doctor who often treated many patients for their burns.

None of the victims ever saw the poisonous jellyfish that attacked them. Then emergency room doctor Jack Barnes decided to find the culprit. He conducted his search off the coast of Northern Australia, where attacks most often occurred, and in 1964 he found a tiny, almost invisible suspect - a 1 cm wide jellyfish. But no one believed that such a nondescript creature could be deadly. To prove he was right, the doctor stung himself, the lifeguard on duty, and his son with a jellyfish. Symptoms appeared within an hour. All three were hospitalized with Irukandji syndrome. Convincing evidence that this tiny jellyfish is the cause of the mysterious disease Irukandji syndrome. Fortunately, all three survived after such an unusual experiment.

Another one lives in the waters off the coast of Australia, perhaps the most dangerous jellyfish The one to avoid is the box jellyfish, better known as the Sea Wasp. How exactly does her poison work? for a long time baffled scientists. It turned out that all the blood cells that are affected by the box jellyfish venom immediately swell and burst. This poison is hemotoxic; it destroys red blood cells. But this is not his only action.

The venom of most poisonous predators has a narrowly targeted effect. Scorpion venom is neurotoxic, it attacks nervous system. I brown recluse spider decomposes skin cells, rattlesnake venom destroys blood vessels. And poisonous jellyfish have all these effects at the same time. A destructive mixture that can cause blisters on the skin, shut down the nervous system and cause cardiac arrest. And that is not all. Box jellyfish venom acts directly on nerve receptors, causing excruciating, long-lasting pain. This multiple combination of toxins makes it almost impossible to create an effective antidote. The composition of this poison is too complex for a simple one-time antidote. There is no such miracle remedy that would neutralize its effect.

The sea jellyfish, which is called a wasp, belongs to the category of box jellyfish, a type of cnidarians. She is a representative of the exceptional animals of the marine world and is able to live only in the salt water of the seas and oceans.

Invisible danger

The sea wasp jellyfish is considered the most poisonous jellyfish in the world. The toxin that is released from its tentacles depresses the nervous system, causing severe burns and unbearable pain. The result is a heart attack that can lead to cardiac arrest. Timely rendered health care in some cases it can save a person’s life. However, there are known cases of death within a very short period of time after an encounter with a poisonous monster. Even a dead sea wasp (photo below) is a source increased danger. The poison-toxin disintegrates only a week after the death of the jellyfish, so it is strictly forbidden to touch it.

Unfortunately, jellyfish of this species are also found in places beach resorts and diving sites. Another danger of meeting a sea wasp is that it is almost invisible. Therefore, precautions should not be neglected.

Habitat

The jellyfish is found in the Indo-Western Pacific Ocean and in South-East Asia. The sea wasp is most often found off the coast of northern Australia, where there is plenty of coral and shallow sea depth during the summer months from November to March. Jellyfish inhabit coastal zones at a respectful distance from the shores, but at strong excitement sea ​​they can be washed ashore.

Appearance

The sea wasp is the largest representative of its class. The body of the jellyfish is a transparent dome, consisting of 95% water. Its shape is similar to a rounded cube, hence the name box jellyfish. The size of the dome is 20-45 cm, in size it can be compared with a basketball ball. It has a pale blue color and is completely invisible in the water.

The animal has 24 eyes, which are located in three pairs in each corner of the dome. Two pairs of eyes serve to receive images, and one only reacts to light. Scientists cannot explain the presence of so many eyes in a jellyfish, because the information received from what it sees has nowhere to be transmitted; it does not have a brain.

In addition to the organs of vision, there are 60 tentacles - four bundles of 15 pieces each. The probes, 15 cm long and 5 mm thick, stretch up to three meters when hunting for prey. Each tentacle is covered with stinging cells containing deadly poison.

The sea wasp does not have a skeleton; it is replaced by two nervous systems, one of which receives and processes information received from the organs of vision, and the other controls the movement of muscles along the border of the dome, which function simultaneously and harmoniously.

Nutrition

Sea wasps feed in coastal waters small fish and various bottom organisms, but the most favorite delicacy is shrimp. When going out to fish, they extend their tentacles and freeze in place. The jellyfish encloses the stalked victim in probes, pierces the skin, injects poison, kills and swallows. In appearance, its bite resembles a wasp, only the venom is much more toxic, incomparable even to the venom of a snake.

Reproduction

The sea wasp gives birth only once in its entire life, and then dies. Box jellyfish live for about 7 months and continue to grow throughout this period.

Sea wasps reproduce offspring in the same way as other individuals belonging to this species. They reproduce in summer period, gathering in large flocks and swimming closer to the shores. During this period of time, Australia is trying to close all beaches.

The male ejects a dose of sperm into the water while near the swimming female. The latter swallows it, fertilization occurs. Larvae develop inside the female, which after some time are released into the water and settle on the surface of the seabed. They stick to stones, shells, and driftwood, forming polyps.

As a result of budding, small jellyfish grow from polyps, which break off and begin an independent life. They immediately navigate the sea and feed on plankton on their own.

What do Australians call a sea wasp?

Due to its transparency, this small sea animal is almost invisible in the water. It is an active predator and poses a great danger to animals and humans. This animal swims well and maneuvers well among algae and corals, moving at speeds of up to six meters per minute. During the day it is most often at the bottom, and with the onset of evening it floats to the upper layers of water. The speed at which a jellyfish attacks its prey is very high.

And the poison contained in the tentacles is so poisonous that when stung, any creature instantly dies. Moreover, it stings several times in a row, bringing the concentration of poison to a lethal level. Australian sea wasp - this is what this jellyfish is called - it poses a danger to all living organisms, with the exception of the poison of these predators does not affect them, and turtles eat box jellyfish with appetite.

Consequences of an encounter with a sea wasp

Although box jellyfish are extremely dangerous to human life, they do not attack them themselves; on the contrary, they tend to swim to the side. It can sting a person purely by accident. Often the victims are scuba divers who are not protected by special suits.

When the skin comes into contact with the tentacle, terrible pain, severe redness and swelling appear. A person's heart most often stops and he drowns. Some managed to get ashore, but paralysis set in respiratory systems s, and the man died. After autopsies, it was discovered that the victims' respiratory organs were filled with mucus, while others died from cerebral hemorrhage. There were cases where a person did not die immediately, but no one remained alive.

Protecting the lives of vacationers

During the jellyfish migration season, net barriers are installed on beaches to prevent them from entering the swimming area. Despite this, small specimens penetrate through the mesh cells, so the beach administration warns vacationers about the danger and strictly prohibits them from entering the water.

This warning should not be ignored. After all, the fast-acting poison of the sea wasp leaves no hope of salvation. The only way to help is to administer an antidote - antitoxic serum and urgently hospitalize the victim. But this does not give any guarantee of saving life.

1. It is known that jellyfish appeared more than 600 million years ago, much earlier than dinosaurs, crocodiles and sharks.
2. Jellyfish and polyps are different stages of the life period of the same creature.
3. A sea wasp is a jellyfish that breathes through its entire dome and stings like a wasp.
4. The absence of a brain does not prevent them from perceiving nervous stimulation from the organs of touch and vision.
5. They have two nervous systems.

Jellyfish are able to move underwater by sucking in and expelling water by contracting their parasol muscles, but they mostly drift thanks to the current. Scientists believe that they belong to plankton.

The sea wasp is descended from the cnidarian class of Box jellyfish. This animal is considered quite rare and the most dangerous jellyfish in the world for humans. There are many types of jellyfish in the waters of the oceans and seas. But, by rights, the most poisonous is the sea wasp.

The jellyfish got its name because it stings exactly like an ordinary wasp, only the poison is sea ​​beast much stronger. If it gets into a living organism, then there is practically no chance of salvation. If a diver accidentally encounters a school of sea jellyfish, he may not be able to come ashore.

What is a sea wasp?

In the vastness of the ocean you can find a large number of the most dangerous and diverse animals that have not been fully studied. One of them is the sea wasp. It belongs to the class of box jellyfish. The peculiarity of this predator is that it is almost impossible to see. A sea jellyfish sneaks up unnoticed and stings the creature it comes across. The people called this beast “invisible death.”

Those who saw sea ​​jellyfish, did not speak of this creature as a monster. Compared to their cousins, these jellyfish are relatively small in size. In their shape, they resemble a cube. Average, body diameter does not exceed 5 centimeters. There are individuals the dome of which reaches 25 centimeters. But such a specimen can be found extremely rarely.

The weapons of the most poisonous jellyfish in the world are its tentacles. Average length the tentacles are one and a half meters long. Their maximum amount can reach 60 pieces. If a sea wasp clasps its prey with all its limbs, then fatal outcome can't be avoided. With the help of special glands in each limb, a very strong poison is produced. At the sea wasp the venom is many times stronger than that of a snake.

Another feature of this sea creature that everyone still can’t figure out is world scientists, is why the most poisonous jellyfish needs eyes if it does not have a brain. Can she see?

Based on research results, it is known that this sea animal actually has there are eyes. There are as many as twenty-four of them. The visual organs are divided into 4 groups. Each group has 6 eyes.

Sea wasp jellyfish habitat

Most people believe that jellyfish can live in absolutely any body of water. But this statement is erroneous. The only habitat of the sea wasp is Australia. Marine life They prefer to choose the northern shores as their habitat, where the waters are relatively shallow and contain a lot of corals.

Lifestyle of the most poisonous jellyfish

It's no secret that the most dangerous jellyfish in the world is a very active and aggressive hunter. The sea wasp hunts while still. As soon as the victim touches its invisible limbs, a powerful stream of poison immediately penetrates the prey. It is worth noting that the jellyfish attacks its prey several times. Thus, the victim dies much faster. The venom of this predator is considered very strong. It affects the nervous system and affects the heart and skin.

Its diet includes small fish and crabs. Having stung the prey, the jellyfish uses its tentacles to pull it towards its cone, where the victim is calmly digested.

The main place for food production is in coastal zones. When not hunting, predators stay away from the shore. It often happens that as a result strong storm, these animals are washed ashore, where there is a large concentration of people.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs in the sea wasp, as in all representatives of this family. First of all, eggs are laid, from which small larvae emerge. Immediately after their appearance, they stick to the bottom, forming a single polyp. Polyps reproduce by budding.

After the small jellyfish breaks away from the polyp, it is ready for independent life and immediately goes in search of food. Because the sea beast that was born left the polyp, it withers and dies suddenly.

Does a sea wasp attack humans?

Poisonous jellyfish pose a huge danger to humanity. However, she uses only what she can eat as her main hunting object. Humans are not included in the sea wasp's food list. Having met a person, the jellyfish tries to swim away. It stings a person only if a collision is inevitable. Divers mainly encounter this bite.

After the animal stings several times, the body receives a huge amount of poison.

The effect of poison on the body manifests itself in several stages:

• redness of the stung area of ​​skin;
• the burn site begins to swell;
• dizziness;
• high fever;
• cardiac arrest is possible.

Death can occur instantly or after two days. It all depends on how much poison the jellyfish injected into the body.

This predator swims very quickly. Due to its speed poisonous jellyfish Can maneuver perfectly between corals. This predator can only be detected at shallow depths. Sea wasps usually lead night look life. During the day they hide at the bottom, but as soon as the sun begins to set, they float to the surface.

Reminder for tourists

Going on vacation to a place where there is high risk encounters with these predators, tourists should follow some tips:

1. It is worth knowing that when meeting a jellyfish, it must be carefully circumvented. Its tentacles are capable of extending over quite a long distance.
2. By diving to greater depths, it is better refrain from touching anything with your hands.
3. It is not recommended to go into the water after a storm. There is a high probability of contact with fragments of a tentacle.

If, after all, a meeting with an aquatic inhabitant takes place, then you should:

• thoroughly rinse the bite area big amount salt water;
• treat the wound with vinegar or strong alcoholic drink;
• very carefully remove the remaining tentacles from the wound.

After the completed procedures, it is necessary to urgently Seek help from qualified medical personnel.

Australian cubic jellyfish, orbox jellyfish, or "sea wasp" (Chironex fleckeri) - an extremely poisonous jellyfish of the Box jellyfish class ( Cubozoa), living off the coast of northern Australia. The name "box jellyfish" can be misleading because C. fleckeri this is only one of the known 19 species included in the class Cubozoa.

Representatives of C. fleckeri are the largest of the box jellyfish; their dome reaches the size of a basketball. They are pale blue in color and almost transparent. The latter circumstance creates an additional danger for swimmers due to the fact that the jellyfish can be extremely difficult to see. Jellyfish have four clusters of 15 tentacles extending from each of the four corners of the dome. When the jellyfish swims, the tentacles contract, reaching a length of 15 cm and a thickness of 5 mm; during hunting, the tentacles become thinner and stretch up to 3 meters in length. The tentacles are covered with many stinging cells containing deadly poison, which respond to pressure, as well as the action of chemical signals of a protein nature.

Millions of sting capsules "release" deadly venom through a penetrating thread into the skin of any creature that touches them.
can be found in coastal waters, streams, and rivers in northern Australia. The box jellyfish is distributed from the Queensland coast to east coast Australia to Northern Territory, and around the north coast Western Australia. The sea wasp is the most common throughout the southern summer months from November to mid-March.

Like other box jellyfish, C. fleckeri There are 4 groups of photosensitive elements, including 24 eyes. Some appear to be capable of image formation, but it is debatable whether they can provide object recognition or tracking; It also remains unknown how information about tactile sensitivity and from light-sensitive structures is processed, since jellyfish do not have a central nervous system.

Eating C. fleckeri shrimps and small fish, and in turn serve as prey sea ​​turtles, these are the only creatures immune to their poison.
The box jellyfish invades coastal areas, rivers, and streams, especially during the wet Southern summer season, the sea wasp becomes a deadly threat to swimmers and fishermen in the area. On clear, calm days, translucent sea wasps can usually be seen and people have the opportunity to avoid encountering these dangerous animals. However, during wet season, coastal waterways are often flooded with silt and mud, becoming murky and making sea wasps difficult to see, putting human lives at risk.

Cause of numerous deaths among swimmers and bathers along the northern Queensland coast of Australia, and due to strong poison, secreted by the sea wasp, most children who were stung by this jellyfish died within minutes of being stung. The sting of a box jellyfish causes excruciating pain that quickly intensifies. Large brown or purple lines and welts quickly appear where the tentacles touch the skin, letting the victim know that they have been stung by a box jellyfish. The poison injected by the sea wasp causes death from cardiac shock and complete paralysis of the circulatory and respiratory systems. In some cases, even an adult can die within minutes. The venom cells also “attack” the victim’s red blood cells and severely damage the skin. An antidote has been developed by scientists, but it must be introduced into the human body very quickly.

There are two other jellyfish that can often be mistaken for a sea wasp - Carybdea alata Reynaud and Chiropsalmus quadrigatus Haeckel. Both of these marine animals are also known as sea wasps, but they are not as poisonous or as deadly.

Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animals
Type: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Squad: Cubomedusae
Family: Chirodropidae
Genus: Chironex
View: C. fleckeri

More than three thousand species of jellyfish live in the seas, oceans and even fresh water bodies today. All varieties differ from each other in color, size, structure, as well as the strength of the poison’s effect on living organisms. The “weapons” of the jellyfish are stinging cells charged toxic substance, and, if some individuals are quite harmless, then the bite of the most dangerous jellyfish in the world can lead to dire consequences.

What do the waters of tropical seas conceal?

Swimming in some bodies of water can not only bring pleasure, in some cases it can simply be dangerous to health and life. For example, in the quiet, picturesque bays of Oceania and Northern Australia, the insidious “sea wasp” is a jellyfish whose sting can cause severe paralysis or even death.

One animal contains enough poison to kill more than 50 adults; No wonder the natives speak of it with reverent horror. The most dangerous jellyfish in Australia is considered much worse than the man-eating shark: its small size and pale, translucent color make the animal almost invisible in the water, and it is quite difficult to avoid meeting it.

It is known all over the world for its amazing sights, but some of them only evoke a feeling of fear. So, another tiny creature that brings horror to many lovers beach holiday- Irukandji jellyfish. In the diameter of the umbrella, its size does not exceed 15-20 mm, and its appearance resembles a transparent bell with four long tentacles.

Humanity learned about the danger of Irukandji thanks to Dr. Jack Barnes, who in 1964 tested the effects of its poison on himself, his son and another volunteer who agreed to a risky experiment.

Dangerous "ship" of the Portuguese seas You can see this jellyfish from afar - it attracts attention with its beauty and bright coloring of the dome. It's about

about physalia, or as it is often called, “Portuguese swallowtail.” Externally, physalia really resembles a sail, painted in unusual blue, violet or purple shades. Like everything else, the jellyfish is a magnificent sight, but you should not get carried away with its detailed study: it can sting. A person affected by poison receives a severe “burn”, has difficulty staying afloat and often drowns. The only positive point is

Avoiding encounters with physalia is quite simple: thanks to its bright colors, it is visible from afar. In the northern part Pacific Ocean

The clinging jellyfish “cross” lives - another tiny but very dangerous creature.

It is nicknamed clingy for the special suction cups on its tentacles, with the help of which it attaches to algae and other underwater objects.

Residents of Primorye most often suffer from “burns” of the cross - sometimes the jellyfish simply terrorizes this region. Fortunately, its poison is not fatal, but it can also lead to sad consequences in the form of severe pain, the appearance of blisters on the skin, and numbness of the limbs.

Huge and “harmful” In the Far Eastern seas, off the coast of Japan, Korea and China, the Nomura Bell is often found -

a huge jellyfish that can reach over 2 meters in diameter and weigh more than 200 kilograms. These giant creatures cause significant damage to the Far Eastern fishing industry., but also their larvae, which are often called “sea lice.” Being no larger than a grain of rice, “young” jellyfish can provide swimmers with a lot of - discomfort severe itching and redness of the skin. Swimming naked can be a salvation from annoying individuals. Nudists enjoy this American state Florida, where sea lice infestations are most common. Most dangerous period