Deadly Jellyfish Sting
The Jellyfish has a very strong and sometimes bad reputation. It has good reason for this nasty reputation. There are some varieties of Jellyfish which are venomous stingers. The most primary self defence mechanism of the Jellyfish is its stinging. It is basically a very soft and gentle creature which can be devoured easily by any larger creature. Nature has its way of protecting it some of the examples of the deadliest Jellyfish are the Sea Wasp or the Box Jellyfish, the Portuguese-man-o'-war and the Irukandji Jellyfish. These are the most deadly of the lot.
The Box Jellyfish or the Marine Stinger has a very bad reputation of being the worst stinger. The toxin of this Jellyfish is so strong that once bitten, the chances of survival are very slim. The toxin causes a total and complete shut down of the respiratory system and also a cardiovascular collapse. It invokes a neuromuscular paralysis which without immediate medical help will most certainly lead to death.
The fatality rate from a Box Jellyfish sting is very high because of this. The tentacles of these Jellyfish are lined with structures called nematocysts. They are poison tipped barbs that penetrate the skin deep and are very difficult to remove. These structures can release venom even if they are not attached to the Jellyfish. A single sting can kill 60 people in 3 minutes. This is a proof of their potency.
The Portuguese-man-o'-war is another fascinating and dangerous creature. It is actually a collection of smaller organisms that occur as one group living in a relationship. The sting of this Jellyfish is extremely painful and causes the formation of red welts on the area of contact. The toxin results in fever, respiratory failure, and heart problems. The hospitalisation of the victim is mostly required in case of a man-o'-war sting depending on the size of the specimen. To understand more about these deadly species read relevant articles on Deadly Jellyfish
Understanding the different types of Jellyfish will allow us to be prepared if there is a sting. The creatures are actually harmless and do not attack on purpose. We are not a part of their diet and we can hold them in our hands. Self defence is what initiates this attack and hence has to be taken in that sense only. These creatures are ancient and have survived a lot of changes. The different types have been closely studied and understood now. To know more and to understand the unique qualities of these alluring and charming creatures visit our homepage, Jellyfish Facts
Learn more about Jellyfish Stings and Jellyfish Sting Safety
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Written by Nathan Dickerson and Sudarsana Sinha.