Box Jellyfish.... important data

[diversjobs]

IN a breakthrough that could bring a new defence against the world's deadliest animal, Queensland scientists have discovered that the box jellyfish flees from the colour red.

While a colour often associated with passion, red is a complete turnoff for the dreaded jellyfish, which in the warmer months inhabits tropical waters in northern Australia and has killed 70 people.
In tests done with Chironex fleckeri jellyfish bred in captivity for the first time, James Cook University Cairns researcher Jamie Seymour found that when a red object was placed before the animal, it would turn around and swim in the opposite direction.

The discovery means protecting beachgoers and swimmers could be as simple as changing the colour of stinger suits and swimming nets on beaches.

Dr Seymour said the find came during trials of coloured plastic with jellyfish in specially made 50,000-litre breeding tanks. "The jellyfish actively swam in the opposite direction from the red. When you put a red tube in the water they actively swim away from it, but if it's a black one, they will swim around it."

He said further research would investigate why box jellyfish were deterred by red and whether other colours could have the same effect.

The box jellyfish inhabit waters from Exmouth in Western Australia to Gladstone in Queensland from November to May.

 

[archman]

Good thing my rashguard is that colour. I suppose this means another scuba fashion craze is sweeping the world. I wonder if this one will have more merit than the sea snake trend. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for the note!

 

[neil]

So, exactly how fast can a jellyfish flee?

 

[Kim]

So what's red that eats box jellyfish?

 

[stevetim]

I honestly didn't know jellyfish had eyes?

 

[archman]

So what's red that eats box jellyfish?

Embarassed sea turtles.

Huh, actually I have no idea. Jellies don't evolve too quick, so maybe it's a predator no longer with us. Or something midwater that comes shallow at night. Maybe it's aliens.

And Steve, it's just the box jellies that have "eyes". The cubozoan lineage is a rather wacky one. They're nothing but trouble. Trouble I say!

 

[freediver]

.....and in a recent study it has been shown that the red color that deters the Box Jellyfish actually attracts the Great White...... more on this later.

 

[DiveGolfSki]

... a swimmer wading in a beach was gored by a bull grazing nearby but is expected to survive. Apparently, the swimmer was wearing a bright red skinsuit to ward against box jellyfish. He was later chastised by PETA officials for luring the bull into the water possibly risking a great white attack ....

 

[jiveturkey]

Just curuious, would a rash guard do the trick against a box jelly?

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Just curuious, would a rash guard do the trick against a box jelly?

Ain’t been there or done that, but...

I saw a television program on box jellies one time that said that surfers wear panty hose to protect themselves (one pair on normally (if you normally wear hose) and one pair with the crotch cut out so as to be worn over the arms and torso.)

They said that the stingers are too short to penetrate pantyhose. If that’s true, a rashguard should easily do the trick.