Irukandji Jellyfish (Carukia barnesi)

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Irukandji jellyfish are a type of deadly venomous box jellyfish. With an adult size of roughly a cubic centimetre (1 cm3), they are both one of the smallest and most venomous jellyfish in the world. They inhabit the marine waters of Australia. They are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. There are about 16 known species of Irukandji, of which Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, Malo maximus, Malo filipina and Malo bella are the best-known.

The symptoms of Irukandji syndrome were first documented by Hugo Flecker in 1952. They were named after the Irukandji people whose country stretches along the coastal strip north of Cairns, Queensland. The first of these jellyfish, Carukia barnesi, was identified in 1964 by Jack Barnes; to prove it was the cause of Irukandji syndrome, he captured the tiny jelly and allowed it to sting him while his son and a lifeguard observed the effects. He was lucky and only ended up mildly sick. Australian toxinologist Jamie Seymour made a documentary about the jellyfish called 'Killer Jellyfish'.

Irukandji jellyfish are very small, with a bell about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) to 25 millimetres (0.98 in) wide (or wider) and four long tentacles, which range in length from just a few centimeters up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length.

Malo Maximus mature irukandji typically have halo-like rings of tissue around their four tentacles. Apparently, it is the mature Irukanji that are highly venomous (in all species). Apparent Malo Maximus juveniles have been identified without the halo-rings, and without gonads, and have demonstrated far weaker toxicity in stinging researchers. The stingers (nematocysts) are in clumps, appearing as rings of small red dots around the bell and along the tentacles.

The Irukandji's small size and transparent body make it very difficult to see in the water.

Very little is known about the life cycle and venom of Irukandji jellyfish. This is partly because they are too small and fragile requiring special handling and containment.[citation needed] Their venom is very powerful; they are suspected of killing 5 tourists during a 3-month period in Australia. Researchers conjecture that the venom possesses such potency to enable it to quickly stun its prey, which consists of small and fast fish. Judging from statistics, it is believed that the Irukandji syndrome may be produced by several species of jellyfish, but only Carukia barnesi and Malo kingi have so far been proven to cause the condition.

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