Dangers and Beauty of the Great Barrier Reef: Irukandji

In the inviting waters of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef there are indeed dangers we must look for while exploring this vast wonderland. I will be talking about Irukandji, which is a tiny jellyfish that little is known about.

How do we recognize one of these small creatures? This is the question everyone is trying to answer. There are currently five different species that are proven to cause systemic symptoms and a few of these species; you probably wouldn't even seek medical aid. But there is one that
can be deadly if confronted.

Carukia Barnesi (Irukandji) is less than 1cm across the body, and has a single tentacle on each corner, that measures about 1 meter long. Both its body and tentacles are armed with stinging cells that contain small harpoons that inject toxins into its prey. These are found from Exmouth in Western Australia to Agnes Waters in Queensland; they are found in deep reef waters most of the time, but can also be swept inshore by the water currents. Most stings are reported between the months of November and May.

The Irukandji is a small jelly fish the size of your thumbnail; it has a single retractile tentacle from 50 to 500 mm long, hanging from each corner of the four corners of its bell.

The silent, mysterious but deadly Irukandji is related the Box Jellyfish but quite a bit smaller and much more dangerous. Up to date this jellyfish has been accounted for at least 70 recorded deaths.

These tiny but sometimes fatal jellyfish can literally swim undetected in the water, so if come in contact with just one it can be dangerous. Unlike the box jellyfish, the Irukandji presence is not confined to just coastal waters; so don't think you are safe by swimming out far from the shore, especially if you are within the northern Australian arc and it is jellyfish season!

In March of 2007 Warner Bros. was filming a movie to be shot in Australia. Filming had to be stopped because these jellyfish has strayed further south and were discovered in the waters of Hervey Bay. No one was stung but they were extremely lucky. These jellyfish were out of place, you must keep our eyes open for them no matter where you are.

Every summer, there can be more than sixty people are hospitalized with stings from this tiny jellyfish. The sting is usually not very painful; but about five to thirty minutes after being stung, they start having a severe backache and/or headache and pain shooting in their muscles, chest and abdomen. They also become nauseous, restless, anxious, and disgorge (vomit). But in rare cases the victim suffers pulmonary oedema (which is fluid on the lungs) and can be fatal if not taken care of immediately.

If you are swimming alone and stung by the Irukandji jellyfish, the affected area could feel like no more than rash or prickly heat. But by the time more serious symptoms appear, it may be too late to save your life.

How can you avoid stings? Protective Lycra suits are the best kind of protection against stings. It does not protect uncovered areas of the body but 75% of stings can be prevented wearing these stinger suits. Try to avoid stepping on or sitting on the jellyfish as it can penetrate the suit when pressure is applied.

Stinger nets provide protection against the larger jellyfish but the Irukandji is so small it can go right though the nets. Tests of a finer 8mm mesh have been tried but with no luck. They are working on a repellant in local Whitsunday Island, but it has yet to hit the market.

Please do not be scared away from this wonderful place of beauty, the Great Barrier Reef. As with most dangers, if you take the right precautions and are aware of these creatures, then there is no reason for you not to enjoy your trip or vacation. If you are diving, special operators will take all precautions necessary to ensure that you have a safe and rewarding day out on the reef. So enjoy yourself and enjoy your time surrounded in the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef!

References:

1) BarrierReefAustralia.com
(www.barrierreefaustralia.com/the-great-barrier-reef/irakandji.htm)

2) about.com
(www.goaustralia.about.com/cs/practicalinfo/a/irukandji.htm)

3) australiafauna.com
(www.australianfauna.con/irakandji.php)

4) Irakandji and Irakandji Syndrome
(www.scubacentre.com.au/irakandji.htm )