Say Hello To The New Kid

A new killer jellyfish has been discovered. Scientists say they have positively identified another member of the extremely venomous Irukandji family living along the eastern coast of Australia.

Marine scientist Dr. Lisa Gershwin has given it the name Morbakka Fenneri, and says it’s a dangerous creature, putting about 15 people in the hospital each year.

Gershwin says Irukandji are normally small, inconspicuous, and fragile, but this one’s enormous… about 15 to 18 centimetres in height. Most Irukandjis are only about one to two centimeters.

[source]

Girl Almost Dies From Jellyfish Sting!

A three-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after being stung by a box jellyfish at an Australia beach.

She collapsed in shallow water last Friday after stepping on the jellyfish. The child was rushed by family members to the local clinic where she had to be resuscitated before being taken to hospital.

Box jellies have been responsible for at least 64 deaths since they were first reported in Australia in 1883. The last recorded death was a six-year-old boy in November 2007.

Stinger season is here!

[source]

Australia Boy Stung by Jellyfish at Mate’s Funeral

According to RadioAustralia, a five-year-old boy was stung by an Irukandji jellyfish at Gove, on the North Australian Coast.

Callam Carey was spreading flowers at the waters edge to commemorate the death of a friend when the tiny jellyfish, measuring only about a centimeter in diameter, stung him.

These little critters may be tiny but they pack a painful, sometimes deadly sting.

The young boy spent hours in hospital on morphine, but it looks like he’ll live.

What Do You Get When You Cross an 8-Year Old With a Jellyfish?

Jonathan Asplin was lucky to get out of the water alive after being stung by the huge jellyfish while swimming at a UK beach. He needed hospital treatment for the sting, but thanks to the wetsuit he was wearing, he was protected from the thighs up.

[source]

1,000 Tardy Jellyfish Hit Hawaii Beaches

Hawaii’s monthly box jellyfish influx came a day late and hit an unusual spot.

More than 1,000 box jellyfish arrived yesterday at Waikiki and Ala Moana Beach Park.

The influx came 11 days after the last full moon instead of the typical 10. And of the 1,000 found so far, 400 were at Ala Moana which rarely sees jellyfish.

Seventy people were treated yesterday for stings in Waikiki today and 12 more were treated at Ala Moana Beach.

[source]

The Jellyfish Invasion Continues

More than 15 people were treated for stings within one hour at the Hanauma Bay beach in Hawaii Monday morning.

But get this. 586 jellyfish were found in the Waikiki-to-Ala Moana area and 111 people treated for stings, all but one in Waikiki.

People stung by jellyfish are advised to flush stings with copious amounts of white vinegar. Those who experience difficulty breathing, muscle cramps or persistent pain should seek immediate medical attention.

Jaunted.com has even created a Jellyfish Invasion map so you can track the hot spots.

[source]

Box Jellyfish Invade Hawaii Beaches

If you’re in Hawaii, don’t forget to pack your Jellyfish Squish! Almost 2,000 box jellyfish unexpectedly invaded beaches along Waikiki and Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday, sending 177 people to seek treatment for stings.

Ocean Safety officials said the influx took them by surprise because they expected the peak to hit Friday, when 400 jellyfish were counted along south shores.

But as early as 10:30 a.m. yesterday, more than 40 people were standing in line at a Waikiki Beach lifeguard tower waiting to have stings tended to by city paramedics.

Ashlei Limbaga, 20, of Wahiawa, and her cousin, 8-year-old Wailani Pascua (pictured above), had barely gone in the water off Waikiki when Wailani started screaming in pain.

Warning signs have been posted and ocean safety experts say that the only way to prevent being stung is to stay out of the water. Duh.

[source]

Bionic Jellyfish

Festo, in conjunction with the specialist display technology company, Effekt-Technik GmbH, has developed a bionic jellyfish. Say hello to AquaJelly.

The bionic jellies were created to study swarming behaviour. Each AquaJelly is able to sense various aspects of its environment and to function completely autonomously, but it’s also equipped with communicative faculties that enable it to cooperate with other members of the group.

I’m not quite sure what all that means but here it is in action.

Jellyfish Invade Galveston Beaches

Large numbers of jellyfish have been invading Galveston waters and beaches. They like the warmer waters… especially the cabbageheads, sea nettles and the man-of-war.

On Sunday, Galveston Beach Patrol treated 100 jellyfish stings. An 11-year-old boy was even transported by ambulance to the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Pack your vinegar!

[source]

Over 800 Box Jellies Float into Waikiki

Ocean Safety officials have picked up more than 800 box jellyfish this morning in Waikiki as the peak of this month’s influx is expected today.

More than 100 were discovered on the beach at Makaha and more than 25 at Pokai Bay along the Leeward Coast.

So far, no stings have been reported… yet.

[source]