I was watching the US news about the death of Steve Irwin yesterday and they were explaining how a sting ray death is very rare. They gave a list of the deadliest marine animals in Australia and the top two were jellyfish. I live on the New Jersey shore and cannot even imagine a jellyfish being a killer. Excuse my ignorance, but can you give the me the name of the killer jellyfish or explain how they kill someone?
Thanks
2006-09-05 13:14:47 · 10 answers · asked by ALBPACE 4 in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
There are some jellyfish which are extremely poisonous. Box jellyfish are very dangerous and their stings can easily be fatal to humans (and some of the most deadly ones aren't even that big).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish
2006-09-05 13:15:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Box Jellyfish is very deadly. Jellyfish are pretty much the same deal as sting rays. Sting rays have stingers (serated barbs) at the base of their tail. When a predator is around or they feel threatened the barbs stick out, kind of like a puffer fish. The barbs can get as long as 12 inches (yeah, imagine having to pull that out of your chest.) Jellyfish have these stingers on their tentacles. The Box Jellyfish can kill a human in less than four minutes!
2006-09-05 20:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by Katlyn ♥ Disney 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the one I think you're referring to is the Box Jellyfish, also known as the Sea Wasp. It is the most venomous creature on earth, and it's tentacles can grow up to 3 metres in length. It lives in the sea surrounding the northern tropics of Australia, and basically makes a lot of the beaches useless during summer.
Basically, all it takes is for you to brush against the tentacles, because they are covered in these stinging cells. You brush against them, and these cells fire mircoscopic barbs into your skin, and then release the venom. Small stings apparently are absolutely agonising, however, most people who are stung in the ocean get entangled in the tentacles. When this happens, there isnt much chance of surviving, as most people pass out from the pain, and drown, OR die from the poison shortly after, because of the mass of poison in the blood stream.
The iraknaji (spelt wrong I think) jellyfish is another deadly jellyfish, which is a lot smaller. Last year 7 or so people were stung by it, but I think only 1 died. It is a lot smaller, so harder to see in the water, but because of it's size, it doesnt inject as much venom, and therefore doesnt kill as many people stung by it.
It is important to differentiate between these stingers, and the stingers found down south, known as Bluebottles or Man O' Wars. These ones are little gel like sacks, filled with air, and have bright blue tentacles on the bottom of them. They float on the surface, and dangle their tentacles below, and are often washed up on beaches during storms and easterly winds. It is important to remember that these creatures are not deadly unless you have an allergy to the venom (not common), however they do pack a nasty sting to them which burns quite badly.
If you are interested in deadly sea creatures, we've got plenty here. Have a look for some info on the stonefish, cone shell, blue ring octopus, southern sea snake.
2006-09-05 22:56:45 · answer #3 · answered by azza 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US, the killer jellyfish is the Portuguese Man-of-War, or sometimes just Man-of-War. They are common in tropical waters down in Florida and sometimes even lead to beach closings.
The temperate waters off Australia have an even wider array of jellyfish, some of which have tentacles strong enough to cause temporary paralysis in a human. This is where many of the deaths come from as a swimmer is stung, and unable to move (or has convulsions) and drowns as a result.
2006-09-05 20:19:03 · answer #4 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Box Jelly Fish Very Bad
2006-09-05 20:16:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I heard about a guy who got stung by a box jellyfish, and he was still screaming when he was unconcious. We got some nasty stuff down here, some snake bites can kill a horse.
2006-09-06 07:30:12 · answer #6 · answered by Richo Fev 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are passive killer , i mean they kill just when they bite , they are not aggressive , but they become that wild animal when you or they think that you are threading them
take care
2006-09-05 20:25:13 · answer #7 · answered by The rocket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if they sting could make you go in shock,or paralize you in the water and you drown
2006-09-05 20:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
shock can kill some people and soem of them have some kind of poison..ouch!
2006-09-05 20:16:43 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋