The sea wasp, or the box jellyfish ( Latin name Chironex fleckeri Southcott) is one of the most deadly stinging animals in the sea. The sea wasp has a large transparent body shaped like a box or a bell, that can be as large as a bucket, and can weigh as much as 2 kilograms. A cluster of 16 long (up to 3 meters in length) semi-transparent, extendable tentacles stream out from under the bell of the box jellyfish. Millions of stinging capsules cover each of the 16 long tentacles. The stinging capsules discharge lethal poison through a penetrating thread into the skin of any creature that touches them.
The sea wasp is found in coastal waters, creeks, and rivers in Australia north from about 22-degrees south latitude. The box jellyfish ranges from the Queensland coast on the eastern coast of Australia into the Northern Territory, and around the northern coast of Western Australia. The sea wasp is most prevalent during the Austral summer months from November to mid- March.
The sea wasp uses its deadly venom to catch prey, which usually consists of prawns. However, when the box jellyfish moves into the coastal areas, rivers, and creeks, particularly during the wet Austral summer season, the sea wasp becomes a deadly menace to swimmers and fishermen in the area. On clear, calm days, the semi-transparent sea wasps can usually be seen and avoided. However, during the wet season, the coastal waterways are often flooded, muddy, and turbid, and the sea wasps are difficult to see until it is too late.
The sea wasp is the cause of numerous deaths to swimmers and bathers along the north Queensland coast of Australia, and because of the potent poison injected by the sea wasp, most children who have been stung by the sea wasp have died within minutes of being stung. The sting of the box jellyfish causes an excruciating pain that increases quickly. Where the tentacles have contacted the skin, large brown or purple lines and welts appear quickly, causing the victim to appear as if he/she has been whipped. The poison injected by the sea wasp causes death by shock to the heart, complete circulatory failure, and respiratory paralysis. If the severe symptoms are not treated quickly, death can occur in minutes, even to an adult. The venom also attacks the victim's red blood cells and severely damages the skin where the poisonous capsules have penetrated the skin. An antivenom for the sting of the sea wasp has been developed, but it must be administered relatively quickly. Because the venom from the sea wasp seriously affects the victim's breathing, it may be necessary to perform continuous CPR to keep a victim alive until professional medical assistance can be obtained.
There are two other cousins to the deadly sea wasp or box jellyfish that are somtimes mistaken for the sea wasp. These are the Carybdea alata Reynaud and the Chiropsalmus quadrigatus Haeckel. Both of these marine animals are also know as sea wasps, but they are not as poisonous or as deadly as the box jellyfish or Sea Wasp (Chironex fleckeri Southcott).
Dave (aka "Squirt")
