The Box Jellyfish: Human Killer that Swims Under the Radar

When we talk of predators in the Ocean that either scare us the most or are the ultimate eating machine, the first answer that comes to mind is shark, most notably, the Great White or Tiger Shark, maybe even the Salt Water Crocodile or possibly the Killer Whale. These are all very good answers that provide great debate credentials and viable reasons for ranking so notoriously high on the food chain. Unfortunately, often times, it is the very small, lesser known animals that remain out of the spotlight, but pose potentially more human injuries and even deaths. The Blue-Ring Octopus, Stone fish and Cone Snails come to mind in this category though nothing comes close to the Box Jellyfish or Sea Wasp, not even the lethal Portuguese Man-O-War can pack the punch that this Cubs can inflict.

Box Jellyfish remain different from the standard jellyfish species(Siphon) due to their umbrella shaped top. The Sea Wasp depicts a cubic shape umbrella rather than a crown or domed shaped umbrella, commonly illustrated in most jellyfish species. The Box Jellyfish can also move at much greater speeds than other Jellyfish since it contains a flap or delirium on the underside of its umbrella effectively concentrating and increasing water flow being expelled from the umbrella resulting in propulsion. They also contain a more developed nervous system and multiple true eyes consisting of retinas, corneas and lenses, allowing them to focus and find prey more ea silly. Box Jellyfish actively hunt their prey whereas other jellyfish drift with the aid of water currents to find their next meal. Attaining speeds of up to four knots and travel ling up to six meters per minute affords these Cubozoan machines of being an apex predator.

Defense and feeding mechanisms are clearly obvious, sort of. Let me explain. Jellyfish consist of the bell shaped umbrella and tentacles used to capture prey and for protection. These tentacles normally consist of varying lengths and number of tentacles armed with nematocysts. These nematocysts(cnidocytes) are like small hypodermic needles containing varying degrees of toxic venom. Venom can be as minor as a bee sting to where if anti venom is not delivered immediately, death is usually the end results. The Box Jellyfish consists of roughly 500,000 cnidocytes on each tentacle which delivers a highly toxic amount of venom used to kill its prey or ward off potential predators. Its prey consists of plankton, such as large krill(shrimp) and small fish. Predators of the Box Jellyfish are various Sea Turtles, Rabbitfish, Batfish, Blue Swimmer Crabs and Butterfish.

OK, time to get to the cold hard truth regarding these deadly animals. Considering that these creatures are probably the most deadly of any animal on land or in water, in the world should raise an eyebrow. To congeal this frightening fact, an ounce of venom from the Box Jelly can potentially kill sixty humans and in under three minutes, that's all! These jellyfish are also very small and are basically see through so your efforts of trying to avoid these venomous beauties is often times unavoidable and is associated with detrimental repercussions. Since 1883 when the first incident dealing with the fatality of a human from a Box Jelly envenomation occurred, 200 reports of envenomations in humans have since taken place, 100 of them fatal. Consider that the Box Jellyfish hails from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the Phillipines as well as remote areas surrounding these areas, the numbers have grown subsequently larger, it's just that these incidences fall through the cracks and don't get media attention via TV and newspaper.

This Jellyfish frequently inhabits inlets, lagoons, beaches and shallow areas surrounding reefs and shorelines. Their ability to cover large areas as a result of swimming rather than drifting adds to their lethal mark not only on in a marine environment but on a human scale as well.

Many place have set up drift nets along popular beach areas in attempt to block these dangerous animals from coming in contact with the human population which help along with signs stating the fact that you are swimming at your own risk as the Box Jellyfish inhabits these same waters.

Best case scenario is not to swim in the waters especially when it is Box Jelly fish season or suffer the painful consequences! The sting associated with a Box Jellyfish would be like taking a knife and heating it with a torch, then placing it on an area of your body and leave it there. Then you times that by five. The best way to getting any quick relief is to add ascetic acid as found in vinegar and place it over the large area inflicted by the teeth /suction cups of their tentacles which have broken off and remain on your body. Then time is of the essence towards getting an anti venom as soon as possible.