2. Box Jellyfish description
The Box Jellyfish is also known as the Sea Wasp or the Marine Stinger. It is one of the most
dangerous of all species of Jellyfish in the world. Many people are afraid to swim in bodies of
water where they live. The fact that they have such a toxic venom that they release is why
people don’t want to be around them. Yet only a few human deaths can be attributed to this
particular species of Jellyfish.
Box Jelly fish Anatomy
There are significant physical differences for the Box Jellyfish than other species. Instead of
looking like a dome they tend to look more like an umbrella. This design allows them to be
able to move with ease. They can move faster and with more control than any other species of
Jellyfish in the world.
They have a nervous system that is more sophisticated than any other species. They have a
nerve base that coordinates their movements. There is only one other species of Jellyfish in
the world that has this complex design.
They are also one of the few species of Jellyfish that have eyes. Box jellyfish have 24 eyes in
four different types. They come in clusters of six on four little lobes. Four of the eyes, the pit
eyes and slit eyes, are simple eyes that only detect light and shadows. But the other two eyes
are complex eyes with lenses, irises and corneas that can actually detect shapes.
3. In at least some species the lobe containing the eyes has a heavy crystal at the bottom which
always pulls it down. This means that whichever way the jelly is swimming, one eye always
points up and the other down. Researchers have done behavioral experiments on one species
that suggest for them the upper eye is designed to look up out of the water at landmarks while
the other eye can watch out for collisions.
The dangerous part of the jellyfish is the long tentacles with the stinging cells. These are
specialised cells like tiny harpoons that shoot into anything they contact and pump in poison.
They are designed to catch fish for the jellies to eat but will react to anything, including
humans.
No-one is sure why they have such a strong poison, but it is thought it is to provide quick
kills. As jellyfish they are fragile and can’t chase injured prey, killing the fish instantly means
they can catch it or stop an enemy.
The tentacles are extremely long, for larger species they can be many metres. The tiny
irukandji jellies are only about the size of your fingernail but can have tentacles a metre long.
If people are stung the intense pain can stop them being able to swim to shore. Vinegar will
deactivate any stinging cells that have not been shot and stop further stings but unfortunately
it won’t do anything about the venom already inside.
4. Box jelly fish Evolution
It is very difficult to understand the evolution process for Jellyfish as a whole, including the
presence of the Box Jellyfish. More than 700 million years ago the Jellyfish was on Earth so
they are able to adapt to changes all around them. The Box Jellyfish has many differences
that distinguish them from other species.
While there are theories we really don’t have any information about how this particular
species was formed. Most experts believe that the Box Jellyfish had to deal with various
predators that were large so that is why their toxins are stronger than other species. It isn’t
understood why they have eyes though and very few species do. It is believed their eye
development and their advanced censoring system though are both part of the evolution
process for this species of Jellyfish.
Box Jelly fish behavior
The Box Jellyfish has been given the nickname of the Sucker Punch Jellyfish. This is due to
the fact that you won’t see them coming. You won’t know that they are upon you until it is
too late. The instant pain from the sting is going to be too much for you to ignore. Getting
someone out of the water quickly that has been stung by one is very important. People can
suffer from shock and fear and not be able to get out on their own.
The body design of the Box Jellyfish offers it a great benefit that other species don’t have.
They are able to move around on their own and not use great amounts of energy to do so.
They can use the currents of the water or the wind to move then in the direction they want to
go. However, they can also move on their own and not have to follow such guides if they
choose not to.
This means that they aren’t going to be floating into harms way of predators without any
recourse. It also means that they have a better chance of survival because they can get to their
food sources. When there are adverse currents they won’t end up dying due to those types of
movements.
5. Box Jelly fish Habit and Behavior
The Tropical Indo Pacific region is where you will find the Box Jellyfish. However, there are
species found in locations all over the world. Along the oceans of Japan and California are
very common too. In the South the Box Jellyfish has been found residing in the ocean waters
of New Zealand.
There are large species found in Australia though that have been known to bite humans.
There are some deaths in that area that have occurred due to such stings. There has been a
huge increase in the number of Box Jellyfish that are found in Australia. It is believed that
this is due to the climate changes as well as the depletion of fish in that area. Since fish are a
common predator of the Box Jellyfish more of them are able to reach maturity and reproduce.
Box jelly fish Habitat and distribution
The Tropical Indo Pacific region is where you will find the Box Jellyfish. However, there are
species found in locations all over the world. Along the oceans of Japan and California are
very common too. In the South the Box Jellyfish has been found residing in the ocean waters
of New Zealand.
There are large species found in Australia though that have been known to bite humans.
There are some deaths in that area that have occurred due to such stings. There has been a
huge increase in the number of Box Jellyfish that are found in Australia. It is believed that
this is due to the climate changes as well as the depletion of fish in that area. Since fish are a
common predator of the Box Jellyfish more of them are able to reach maturity and reproduce.
Box Jelly fish Diet and feeding habits
The feeding habits of the Box Jellyfish are one of the few species that are able to go hunt for
their food resources. They don’t just float along in the water and take what comes along. Still,
they are opportunistic so they will eat heavily when there is plenty of food around for them to
do so.
Their diet consists of fish, plankton, and crustaceans. They will also consume larvae from
various species of Jellyfish and even fish eggs when they find them. Their stomach is very
large and allows them to eat plenty at once. They use their tentacles to get the prey and then
immobilize it with their toxins.
They swallow their prey whole and then will quickly move on to find more of it. There can
be times of the year when they don’t get enough food. That is why they will consume all they
can when it is readily available.
6. Box Jelly fish Reproduction
Box Jellyfish have the ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually. They are either male
or female based on their DNA profile. However, they have the ability to offer both eggs and
sperm independently. Once the eggs have been offered then sperm mixes with them to create
larvae.
This stage can take a long time, even more than a year. The polyps will continue to grow and
to branch out. There can be hundreds of them connected through very thin feeding tubes. As
food supplies come along then the nutrients are distributed to all of the polyps through those
feeding tubes.
Over time the polyps will start to breach off from each other. This is when there will be the
actual Box Jelly fish. Before it can breach off though a mouth has to form, eyes form, and
more tentacles form so that it will be able to swim away and care for itself. The average life
span in the wild is less than 1 year.
Box Jelly fish predotor
Even though the Box Jellyfish is a very aggressive type of species there are still some
predators it has to contend with. Turtles are the biggest problem for them due to their shell
protecting them from the toxins. They also have protection over the eyes. Turtles and various
species of fish will consume the Box Jellyfish to survive.
Due to the severity of the sting from such a Jellyfish humans are prime predators of the Box
Jellyfish. They tend to want to remove its presence from beach areas. They know that people
can’t come and enjoy those locations when there is a risk of being stung by one of them.
They also know that tourist dollars will stop coming along due to the risks if the problem
isn’t kept under control.
