Keesingia

Keesingia gigas, the "giant" (Greek gigas) Keesingia, is one of two new species of Irukandji jellyfish, the only one of the genus Keesingia in the Alatinid family.[1]

Keesingia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Cubozoa
Order: Carybdeida
Family: Alatinidae
Genus: Keesingia
Gershwin, 2014
Species:
K. gigas
Binomial name
Keesingia gigas
Gershwin, 2014

Found off the north-west coast of Western Australia, the species is able to deliver an extremely deadly sting which can cause the victim to experience the Irukandji syndrome which can cause pain, nausea, vomiting and in some rare instances stroke or heart failure.[1][2]

About the length of a person's arm, the species is unique because Irukandji jellyfish are usually the size of a finger nail. Moreover, none of the specimens found so far have tentacles.[3] It was named after the marine biologist John Keesing, who captured one near Shark Bay in 2013.[2] This and another new species bring the total number of jellyfish known to cause Irukandji syndrome worldwide up to 16, four them coming from Western Australia.[1]

References
  1. "New toxic jellyfish with no tentacles found in WA". Australian Geographic. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. "New jellyfish discovered: giant venomous species found off Australia". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  3. Rob Quinn (8 August 2014). "Giant New Jellyfish Has No Tentacles". Newser. Retrieved 9 August 2014.


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