Some Jellyfish Can Burn You!
When you go sunbathing and swimming in the sea, you usually do expect to get sun burned and hence, apply lashings of sunscreen lotion. But the last thing you'd expect is to get burns, not from the sun, but from a jellyfish! After all, every one knows that getting stung by a jellyfish can result in rashes, fever, itching, allergic reactions, and respiratory problems and so on. But burns? Hard to believe, isn't it?
Well, ask swimmers along the southern coast of Norway. They were horrified to discover the brennmaneter, a large jellyfish, appearing in the waters in the area. This jellyfish is dreaded in Norway and can leave you with very painful burns on your body if you come in contact with it. Warnings have already been issued to beach goers in this area for the summer season ahead.
Tone Falkenhaug, a researcher, spoke to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) about the brennmaneter, and said that water skiers, boaters and swimmers should be prepared to face an influx of these slimy jellyfish that can be up to several centimeters in width.
Tone Falkenhaug told NRK, "I'm afraid we're heading into what can be called a 'manetsommer', when we're seeing so many of them this early." The brennmaneter have been observed swimming in the waters along the coast of Sørlandet during the first half of June.
Tone Falkenhaug said that she blames "good growing conditions" for the brennmaneter arriving in these waters, which are due to low temperatures, the winds off the mainland and plenty of food to feed on. These jellyfish react to contact with the human skin by ejecting toxins that can result in a burning sensation, an angry rash and complications for those who prove to be allergic to these toxins.
The brennmaneter , also known as Burn Jelly, can be up to 2 meters in diameter, and is the largest of all cnidarians . It is usually found along the Norwegian coast. It has a deadly weapon in the form of nettle cells (cnidocytter), which are made up of nematocyster that contain a harpoon-like thread wound with poison. These cnidarians have generated a great deal of fear among the beach goers for years.
The nettle cells of the brennmaneter are triggered off by physical or chemical contact. The wound poison thread is then shot out. The brennmaneter is normally red or yellow in color and has tentacles that grow up to 30 meters in length. It would be wise to seek medical intervention without delay if contact is made with this jellyfish.
http://www.newsinenglish.no/2010/06/18/jellyfish-invade-coastal-waters/
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