Size does not matter. Meet the Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi). This tiny little fellow is dea

Size does not matter.Meet the Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi). This tiny little fellow is deadly; believed to be the most venomous creature in the world and they are only around 2.5cm big. The term Irukandji refers to an Australian Aboriginal tribe that inhabited the Palm Cove region of northern Queensland where the Irukandji syndrome, produced by the irukandji stings poison, occurs most often.To put just how harmful these little guys are in perspective, their venom is 100 times more potent than a cobra and 1000 times more potent than a tarantula- ouch! To make things even more dangerous, unlike average jellyfish which have stingers (nematocysts) only on their tentacles, the Irukandji also has stingers on its bell. Biologists assume that this is to compensate for its small size.Relatively little is known about the Irukandji Jellyfish’s life cycle, but we do know that they are relatives of the Meduse Della box jellyfish. The lack of knowledge is partly because they are so small and fragile requiring special handling and containment; they can’t even be kept in an aquarium.In terms of the consequences of getting stung, a small amount of venom induces excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, a burning sensation of the skin and face, headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and psychological phenomena such as the feeling of impending doom. The syndrome is in part caused by release of catecholamines which affect the nervous system.Irukandji are usually found near the coast, attracted by the warmer water, but blooms have been seen as far as five kilometres offshore. When properly treated, a single sting is normally not fatal but hospitalisation is required as soon as possible.JeanImages: Wikimedia Commons -- source link
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