The Box Jellyfish
(Chironex fleckeri)

The Box Jellyfish is regarded as the world’s most dangerous sea creature. Since 1900 it has been responsible for the deaths of at least 70 Australians.
Remarkably, it was not classified “discovered” as the cause of deaths until 1956.

Box Jellyfish does not attack its victims, but sting occur when people run into, swim into or jump on to the Box Jellyfish, and are stung by the tentacles.

The Bell (head) of the chironex may be as large as a laundry bucket, beneath this there are some 60 tentacles which may stretch out 3m.

The chironex toxin has 3 separate toxins: one causes skin damage, one causes damage to blood, one may paralyse the heart and cause respiratory paralysis. The Bell of the Jellyfish does not sting, but contains the brain and reproductive organs of the chironex.

To avoid Box Jellyfish stings, swim in protected areas. Box Jellyfish occur coastally in October to May from Gladstone (Queensland) to Broome (Western Australia). They feed on fish, prawns and shrimps.

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