Carukia barnesi

Carukia barnesi is an extremely venomous jellyfish found near Australia. Stings can result in Irukandji syndrome, and this species is commonly known as Irukandji jellyfish, although this name does not distinguish it from other Irukandji jellyfish such as Malo kingi.

Carukia barnesi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Order: Carybdeida
Family: Carukiidae
Genus: Carukia
Species:
C. barnesi
Binomial name
Carukia barnesi
Southcott, 1967

A mature C. barnesi's bell is only 12 by 30 millimetres (0.47 by 1.18 in) in height. It has four contractile tentacles, one extending from each bottom "corner" of its bell, ranging in length from 5 to 50 centimetres (2.0 to 19.7 in).[1]

The species was discovered by Dr. Jack Barnes of Cairns, Australia, who, while on an exploration mission aimed at determining the reason for Irukandji syndrome, allowed himself to be stung by the jellyfish, while his 14-year-old son and a lifeguard looked on.[2] The jellyfish was later named after him.[3]

Carukia barnesi is a soft-bodied marine organism. This species falls within the Medusozoa subphylum and the Cubozoa class. It is a type of "box jellyfish" that is known for producing potent venom and is known for inflicting the Irukandji syndrome.[4]

Threat to Humans: The Irukandji syndrome was first discovered after a group of swimmers were stung in the open water near North Queensland, Australia. Victims of the sting reported severe symptoms of muscle aches, back pain, nausea, headaches, chest and abdominal pains, sweating, high blood pressure and difficulty breathing.[4] Intravenous administration of pethidine is used to treat patients with this syndrome.[4]

Most reported incidents have been localized to Australia during the warm summer season. Due to the small size of C. barnesi (approximately 20 mm in diameter and 25 mm in depth of the bell), they often go undetected in the open water.[4]

Description

The structure of C. barnesi follows that of a Box Jellyfish- it has a square-shaped bell structure and long tentacles that extend out of its base. The tentacles house the nematocysts which are stinging cells.[5] Type I nematocysts (homotrichous microbasic rhopaloids) and Type II (homotrichous haplonemes) nematocysts are both found on the tentacles and bells of the species.[5] These cells are also capable of producing venom that changes composition as C. barnesi matures to adulthood.[5] Studies with SDS gel- electrophoresis have found that the protein composition of the venom increased as these jellyfish altered their prey from invertebrates (zooplankton and crustaceans) to vertebrates.[5]

C. barnesi feeds by stinging its prey through nematocysts and injecting venom. Once the prey is paralyzed and in captivity, muscle cells in the tentacles will aid the jellyfish to bring food closer to its mouth. At the mouth, the food can enter a gastric cavity and be digested.

Life cycle

Cubozoans follow a life cycle that alternates between young benthic sessile polyps and adult motile pelagic medusae. The cycle begins with a planula larvae. This planula will continue to swim until it finds a substrate that it can use as support. Once the planula attaches to a substrate like a coral reef or rock, the organism will morph into a polyp. This polyp can remain asexual for extended periods of time.[6] Eventually, the polyp will begin to clone and form a polyp colony. As it continues to acquire nutrients, the colony will develop into an adult medusa.[6]

References
  1. Goggin, Louise (November 2004). "Irukandji Jellyfish". Plants and Animals. CRC Reef Research Centre. Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  2. "Stingy Scientist". darwinawards.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  3. Barnes, J. H (1964). "Cause and Effect in Irukandji Stingings". The Medical Journal of Australia. 1: 897–904. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1964.tb114424.x. PMID 14172390.
  4. Fenner, P. J; Williamson, J; Callanan, V. I; Audley, I (1986). "Further understanding of, and a new treatment for, "Irukandji" (Carukia barnesi) stings". The Medical Journal of Australia. 145 (11–12): 569, 572–4. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb139500.x. PMID 2879213.
  5. Underwood, Avril H; Seymour, Jamie E (2007). "Venom ontogeny, diet and morphology in Carukia barnesi, a species of Australian box jellyfish that causes Irukandji syndrome". Toxicon. 49 (8): 1073–82. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.01.014. PMID 17395227.
  6. Courtney, Robert; Browning, Sally; Seymour, Jamie (2016). "Early Life History of the 'Irukandji' Jellyfish Carukia barnesi". PLOS One. 11 (3): e0151197. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1151197C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151197. PMC 4783009. PMID 26954781.

Data related to Carukia barnesi at Wikispecies

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