Fun Box Jellyfish Facts For Kids
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Do you know about an incredible invertebrate that has got the most deadly venom present in its body? Yes, it is none other than the Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri).
These magnificent creatures do not purposely attack humans but if you touch them you will get stung. Jellyfish stings are very painful and deadly as the box jellyfish venom can lead to a dangerous spike in blood pressure and lead to heart seizure in humans.
You must seek immediate medical attention after a jellyfish sting otherwise you will be left with several box jellyfish sting scars. These animals shrink if they do not eat properly.
Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) venom is regarded as one of the deadliest in the world leading to several deaths every year. The toxins present in box jellyfish sting can affect the nervous system, heart, and skin cells and at the same time cause excruciating pain.
Here are some interesting facts on box jellyfish. For more relatable content, check out these immortal jellyfish facts and Irukandji jellyfish facts for kids.
Box Jellyfish Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a box jellyfish?
Australian box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) is a marine invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are considered one of the most deadly creatures in the world. The venom of box jellyfish is highly poisonous and causes serious damage. The most venomous marine animal is none other than the Australian box jellyfish. Box jellyfishes are also called sea wasps.
What class of animal does a box jellyfish belong to?
Australian box jellyfish is a venomous marine animal. These animals come under the Chirodropidae family and are one of the most lethal aquatic species, thanks to the toxins in its lethal venom.
How many box jellyfish are there in the world?
In 2018, there were about 51 species of box jellyfish, the most venomous marine animal around the world. There is no accurate estimate of the total number of box jellyfish in the world.
Where does a box jellyfish live?
Box jellyfish live in oceans. They are seen in the regions of Southeast Asia and Australia. They are also found in the Indo-Pacific region, Indian ocean, and the Pacific Ocean, and the northern parts of Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
What is a box jellyfish's habitat?
Box jellyfish prefer to live in saline shallow waters in the parts of Australia. Even though jellyfish live in the ocean they can also be found swimming in freshwater and mangrove channels.
Who do box jellyfish live with?
Box jellyfish prefer to live in groups as well as alone across box jellyfish habitats. A group of box jellyfish is known as a smack. Smaller box jellyfish are usually seen sticking together in groups to escape from any attacks and the larger species of box jellyfish prefer to be alone in their habitat.
How long does a box jellyfish live?
A box jellyfish has a very short lifespan of around 9-12 months but that does not have any effect on the lethal box jellyfish sting. When it stings any human, they can die within minutes of being stung.
How do they reproduce?
Box jellyfish usually go to the freshwater for reproduction during the spring season and find mates during this time. The sperm and eggs are released directly in the water during the box jellyfish reproduction process. A mature jellyfish releases eggs or sperm in the water, mostly in freshwaters.
A juvenile medusa is formed after the full budding process of polyp finishes. The medusa grows into a sexually mature one. Box jellyfish cannot look after their young ones as they die after the release of eggs or sperms.
What is their conservation status?
Conservation status of the box jellyfish is not listed by IUCN. There are no special measures taken to conserve them as there is no significant problem facing their population across box jellyfish locations.
Box Jellyfish Fun Facts
What do box jellyfish look like?
A box jellyfish’s medusa looks like a square-shaped bell and is situated on the upper part. That is how it got its name. They have sensory organs with 24 eyes and are blue and transparent in color and the corners of the bells, pedalia have tentacles hanging.
There are four pedalia each with 15 tentacles hanging from them. There are a total of 60 tentacles for a jellyfish. Nematocysts are found in millions at the tip of each tentacle that holds the venom.
How cute are they?
A box jellyfish is magnificent in appearance but very venomous and lethal. They are not cute but are beautiful.
How do they communicate?
Box jellyfish cannot communicate like other animals as they do not have a brain. They communicate with each other using colorful lights by flashing them.
How big is a box jellyfish?
Box jellyfish size is around 7-8 in (17.8-20.3 cm) and has a diameter of around 12 in (30.5 cm).
How fast can a box jellyfish swim?
Box jellyfish can swim very fast compared to other jellyfishes at around 4.6 mph (6.4 kph) in the sea.
How much does a box jellyfish weigh?
On an average scale, a box jellyfish weighs around 4.5 lb (2 kg). It may vary according to the surroundings.
What are the male and female names of the species?
As box jellyfish is a marine invertebrate, its species is C. fleckeri. Box jellyfish are either male or female and do not have any particular name.
What would you call a baby box jellyfish?
A baby box jellyfish is commonly called a planula.
What do they eat?
Box jellyfish are carnivores. They feed on tiny fishes, marine worms like arrow worms and annelid worms, mantis shrimps, prawns, crustaceans, and sometimes they feed on the other box jellyfish.
Box jellyfish have only one natural predator: green sea turtles.
Are they dangerous?
Box jellyfish are very dangerous and the most venomous marine animal in the world. Their venom is so poisonous that a person may die within 2-5 minutes.
When jellyfish venom enters the body through a sting, it reacts with the blood, leading to a dangerous increase in blood pressure. This toxic venom is life-threatening to the stung human being as it attacks the heart, blood, skin cells, and other organs in the body at the same time.
Their venom is effective against the skin of animals as well. Box jellyfish poison is extremely lethal and as a result, news of box jellyfish deaths are all too common in media.
Would they make a good pet?
Box jellyfish are known to be kept as pets. But it needs investment to create such a habitat of box jellyfish. They cannot be kept in regular aquariums. It is not very suitable to keep them as pets.
Did you know...
Box jellyfish consists of around 96 percent water and are almost invisible. It doesn't have a heart, gills, or lungs. Even, box jellyfish eyes are present in six clusters.
A 10-year old girl from Australia was reported to be the first one to survive a jellyfish sting in 2010.
How many tentacles does a box jellyfish have?
Each pedalia of a box jellyfish has around 15 tentacles and there are four pedalias. So there will be around 60 tentacles for a jellyfish.
How many eyes does a box jellyfish have?
Box jellyfish have a total of 24 eyes. They are present in six clusters. One is the upper and lower lens eye; which are of the other invertebrate as well as humans where the others are primitive.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these moon jellyfish facts and redtail catfish facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our jellyfish coloring pages.
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