Where are Irukandji located?
northern Australia
Habitat. Solitary and usually occupying deeper offshore waters of northern Australia from Western Australia to Queensland, the Irukandji is swept inshore by winds and currents year-round, more frequently in summer. Found rarely off Sydney and Melbourne.
Can you survive Irukandji?
They inhabit the northern marine waters of Australia. They are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing a condition known as Irukandji syndrome, which can be fatal.
Is the Irukandji the deadliest jellyfish?
The Irukandji jellyfish can be found off the coasts of Australia, and it is considered one of the deadliest creatures on the entire continent. These jellyfish are extremely venomous, and most often inhabit the northern waters of Australia.
Do Irukandji jellyfish have eyes?
Unlike most species of jellyfish, the Irukandji (along with other box jellies) has a primitive eye. It cannot see the way people can, but it can form images.
How do you spot a Irukandji jellyfish?
The symptoms of an Irukandji jellyfish sting are not immediate and may appear 5 to 45 minutes after the initial sting. Signs and symptoms can include: • severe backache or headache • shooting pains in their muscles, chest and abdomen • nausea • anxiety • restlessness • vomiting • breathing difficulties.
Are there any cases of Irukandji syndrome in Australia?
Irukandji syndrome is a distressing envenoming secondary to the sting of Carukia barnesi and other, as yet unidentified, jellyfish found in coastal waters of tropical Australia. It has also been reported in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Asia and Papua New Guinea. In a small number of cases, life‑threatening hypertension and pulmonary oedema may develop.
Where can you find Irukandji jellyfish in Australia?
Irukandji are usually found in tropical waters, from Bundaberg in Queensland, up around the northern coastline of Australia, to Geraldton in Western Australia.
How often does Irukandji sting the Great Barrier Reef?
Out of the millions of people who visit the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, a particularly bad year will yield around 50 – 100 Irukandji stings that require medical treatment. When you consider the size of the coastline, this is not a large number.
When is the Irukandji jellyfish stinger season?
When is ‘stinger season’? Irukandji are commonly referred to as marine stingers, or stingers. Experts, however, don’t encourage the commonly-used term of ‘stinger season’ when referring to the months of November to May, as it implies jellyfish stings do not occur at other times of the year.