Box Jellies in Gulf of Mexico?

[Hetland]

About three weeks ago I saw a brood of what appeared to be box jellies in Pensacola, Florida. They were about the size and shape of my pinky fingernail, and had four primary tentacles that branched out into multiple, smaller tentacles. I've never seen these before, and was under the impression that box-type jellies were confined to the Tropical Pacific.

Do we have box jellies in the gulf, and if so, what variety do we have here? (hopefully not fleckeri or irukandji)

 

[knotical]

Yep, Caribbean box jellies. You probably saw sea wasps (Carybdea alata or C. marsupialis). Nasty, but not nearly as nasty as fleckeri or irukandji.

 

[diver 85]

Yep, Caribbean box jellies. You probably saw sea wasps (Carybdea alata or C. marsupialis). Nasty, but not nearly as nasty as fleckeri or irukandji.

wait till you stick your face down in a 'flock' of sea wasps....That can HURT--for days...

 

[knotical]

wait till you stick your face down in a 'flock' of sea wasps....That can HURT--for days...

Absolutely, but not usually life threatening.

 

[farsidefan1]

Very interesting. On the shark dive in Roatan 2 yrs ago ther were a bunch of square jellies with what looked like tentacles coming out of each corner. They were only the top 15 feet or so but there were hundreds of them. I just wear a t shirt in Roatan but I didn't get touched dropping down or returning. Another diver used his purge to "clear a path" for himself. I didn't get touched, he got massacred. Glad I went first. I still haven't figured out why I didn't get nailed but I teased him about pissing them off. Oh yeah, and a swimsuit lol. Now that might have stung!!!

 

[awdemeo]

About three weeks ago I saw a brood of what appeared to be box jellies in Pensacola, Florida. They were about the size and shape of my pinky fingernail, and had four primary tentacles that branched out into multiple, smaller tentacles. I've never seen these before, and was under the impression that box-type jellies were confined to the Tropical Pacific.

Do we have box jellies in the gulf, and if so, what variety do we have here? (hopefully not fleckeri or irukandji)

what you described sounds alot like iricangi due to the size although may be a little big. if they are sea wasps which i would hope they are the best treatment for the stink is to first put vinigar on the area this will stop the stinging cells then use meat tenderizers and rub it into your skin in the area stung(dosnt feel good) this will help pull the venom out and stop the stinging faster.

 

[grisgris]

Does anyone know what kind of jelly this is?

I got this shot 2 years back in Pensacola, FL.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Box jellies are not unknown in the Gulf of Mexico. The death of a 4 year old boy in Galveston in 1990 was attributed to a box jelly.

More info with links in this older thread.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cayman-islands/164618-sea-wasps-yikes.html

 

[awdemeo]

Does anyone know what kind of jelly this is?

I got this shot 2 years back in Pensacola, FL.

hey their i have seen photos of the jelly before jellys are my big thing and after grad school what i hope to study. let me check one of my books and i will get back to you on what it is

 

[porbeagle]

I'll take a shot.....
Many -ribbed Hydromedusa, Aequorea aequorea ????
Jellies are not my strong point and I don't its size.
But I'll look it up if noone else is sure.
PORBEAGLE